Compare towns
Dover vs Peterborough vs Sherborn
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 most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Peterborough has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
Sherborn has the most kids (29.2% under 18).
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 | Peterborough | Sherborn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
6,408Highest |
4,427 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4 22% above U.S. |
52.1±1.9Highest 34% above U.S. |
42.8±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Peterborough 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
29.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
82.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Sherborn 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. |
$98,401±$8kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$404,500±$31kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$1,026,800±$72k 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,395±$209Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,338±$316Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,655Lowest 177% 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% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Sherborn 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% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
49.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #59 of 120 in NH | #53 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Contoocook Valley School District | Sherborn |
| High school in town | — | Conval Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.