Compare towns
Dover vs Natick vs Newton
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%).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Newton has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Natick | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
36,873 |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
42.1±0.9Lowest 5% above MA |
| Dover and Natick 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% |
21.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Natick 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% |
20.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Natick and Newton 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% |
70.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Newton 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 |
$138,538±$11kLowest 33% above MA |
$190,304±$9k 83% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$821,000±$25kLowest 46% above MA |
$1,264,900±$43k 125% above MA |
| Dover and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,134±$124Lowest 21% above MA |
$2,370±$81Highest 35% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,914Lowest 49% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.2%±2 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Newton 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 | #48 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Natick | Newton |
| High school in town | — | Natick High | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.