Compare towns
Dover vs Ayer vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Ayer has the most affordable homes ($464k median).
Bolton has the most kids (25% under 18).
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 | Dover | Ayer | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
8,645Highest |
5,737 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.2±1.7 3% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bolton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Ayer 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 |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$205,449±$31k 98% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$796,000±$49k 42% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,583±$1kHighest 10% below MA |
| Bolton and Ayer 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 |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 26% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Bolton 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ayer Shirley School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | — | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.