Compare towns
Dover vs Salem 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).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k 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 | Salem | Sherborn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
30,964Highest |
4,427 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
42.8±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Dover and Salem 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% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest 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% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Sherborn 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% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
82.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Salem 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. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$1,026,800±$72k 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$2,338±$316Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,992Lowest 124% 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% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #53 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Salem School District | Sherborn |
| High school in town | — | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.