Compare towns
Dover vs Plainfield vs Bolton
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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
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 | Plainfield | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,308 |
1,314Lowest |
5,737Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4 22% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Plainfield 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%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bolton 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% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Bolton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Bolton 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. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$205,449±$31k 154% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$796,000±$49k 139% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,583±$1kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Bolton and Plainfield 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 221% above U.S. |
$4,806Lowest 54% 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% |
73.2%±53.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Plainfield 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% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 39% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Nashoba |
| High school in town | — | — | Nashoba Regional |
| 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.