Compare towns
Carlisle vs Dover vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carlisle has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($809k median).
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 | Carlisle | Dover | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,239Lowest |
5,930 |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.1Highest 13% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
| Carlisle and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.4%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Carlisle and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Carlisle and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 87.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
84.8% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,103,900±$46k 96% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$855Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
| Dover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77%±21.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 21% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 38.5%±8.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Carlisle and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Carlisle | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Reading |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.