Compare towns
Dover vs Dudley vs Webster vs Sherborn
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).
Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
Sherborn has the most kids (29.2% 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 | Dudley | Webster | Sherborn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
11,929 |
12,228Highest |
4,427 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
42.8±2.3 7% above MA |
| Dover and Sherborn 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% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
29.2%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sherborn and Webster 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% |
16.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Dudley and Sherborn 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% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
82.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dudley 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 |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$333,100±$14kLowest 41% below MA |
$1,026,800±$72k 83% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,198±$85Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,338±$316Highest 33% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,691 38% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48%±26.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
49.1%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sherborn 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #53 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dudley-Charlton Reg | — | Sherborn |
| High school in town | — | Shepherd Hill Regional High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.