Compare towns
Dover vs Fall River vs Sherborn vs Chilmark
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 homeowners (97.9%).
Fall River has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Sherborn has the most kids (29.2% under 18).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
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 | Sherborn | Chilmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308 |
94,082Highest |
4,427 |
1,578Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4 19% above MA |
39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
42.8±2.3 7% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
| Chilmark 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%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
29.2%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sherborn 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% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
82.3% MA: 47.3% |
68.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Fall River 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 |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149k 133% above MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$1,026,800±$72k 83% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$2,338±$316 33% above MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
| Chilmark and Sherborn 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 |
$4,485 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
48%±26.3 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest 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% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
49.1%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 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 | #262 of 282 in MA | #53 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Sherborn | Up-Island Regional |
| High school in town | — | B M C Durfee High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— | — |
| 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.