Compare towns
Dover vs Ayer vs Dover
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 people working from home (37.4%).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Dover has the most kids (26% 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 | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
8,645Highest |
5,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
| Dover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover 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% |
16.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dover 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% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Dover 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149k 133% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
| Dover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
| Dover 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% |
20%±100Lowest 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ayer Shirley School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | — | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.