Compare towns
Dover vs Hanover vs Dover
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%).
Hanover has the most affordable homes ($755k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k 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 | Hanover | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
14,845Highest |
5,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% 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%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover 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%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dover and Hanover 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% |
56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 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 |
$189,803±$23kLowest 83% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149k 133% above MA |
$755,400±$39kLowest 34% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% 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 | — | $1,845±$341Lowest 5% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
| Dover and Hanover 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 |
$9,342Lowest 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4 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 | #69 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | — | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.