Compare towns
Dover vs Exeter vs Needham vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
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 | Exeter | Needham | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
16,151 |
32,459Highest |
5,737 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Dover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$205,449±$31k 154% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$796,000±$49k 139% above U.S. |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,583±$1kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814Lowest 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 39% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Nashoba |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | — | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 12.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.