What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dalton has the oldest population (median age 49.7).

Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dalton	Dover
People
Population	6,256Lowest	33,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S.	36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S.
Kids under 18	20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dalton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	52%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average	$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S.	$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S.	$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S.	$8,249Highest 164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dover and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.	23 minHighest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dover and Dalton 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	#192 of 282 in MA	#64 of 120 in NH
School district	Central Berkshire	Dover School District
High school in town	Wahconah Regional High	Dover Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	12.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.