Compare towns
Dover vs Dover vs Milton
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).
Milton has the most affordable homes ($933k 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 | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
5,930 |
28,587Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| 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%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Milton 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%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Dover and Milton 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% |
71.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Milton 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 |
$188,529±$15kLowest 81% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149k 133% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$933,200±$31kLowest 66% 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 | — | $2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
| Dover and Milton 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 |
$9,677Lowest 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Milton 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% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
31 minLowest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9Lowest 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 | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Milton |
| High school in town | — | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
12.4Highest |
| 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.