Compare towns
Buckland vs Dover vs Charlemont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buckland has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Charlemont has the oldest population (median age 59.6).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Buckland | Dover | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,036 |
5,930Highest |
1,118Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±5.4 24% above MA |
44.9±2.3Lowest 12% above MA |
59.6±6.7Highest 49% above MA |
| Charlemont and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
41.1%±10.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.9% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,877±$6k 20% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $321,400±$25k 43% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$305,500±$52kLowest 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,111±$213 37% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,023±$126Lowest 42% below MA |
| Dover and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,761 21% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,351Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.1%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Buckland and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #1 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Hawlemont |
| High school in town | Mohawk Trail Regional School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
9.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.