Compare towns
Dover vs Fall River vs Dover vs Bolton
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 oldest population (median age 47.5).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
Dover has the most kids (26% 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 | Fall River | Dover | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
94,082Highest |
5,930 |
5,737 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
41.2±1.7 3% 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% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover 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 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Dover and Fall River 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% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$205,449±$31k 98% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149k 133% above MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$796,000±$49k 42% 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 | — | $1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,583±$1k 10% below MA |
| Dover and Bolton 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 |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100 MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
94.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 26% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #262 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Nashoba |
| High school in town | — | B M C Durfee High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
9.8Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| 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.