Compare towns
Dover vs Dover vs Gardner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Dover has the most kids (26% under 18).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k 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 | Dover | Dover | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
5,930 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% 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% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest 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%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Gardner 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% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149k 133% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
| Dover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
| Dover and Gardner 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 |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Gardner |
| High school in town | — | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.