Compare towns
Dover vs Scituate 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).
Scituate has the most affordable homes ($449k 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 | Scituate | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
10,517Highest |
5,737 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4 22% above U.S. |
49.9±4Highest 28% above U.S. |
41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Scituate 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% |
14.9%±3.3Lowest 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% |
25.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Scituate 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. |
$112,315±$23kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$205,449±$31k 154% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$449,300±$26kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$796,000±$49k 139% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,489±$251Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$1,583±$1kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Bolton and Scituate 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. |
$5,265Lowest 69% 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% |
59.6%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Scituate 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% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 39% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest 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 | #17 of 38 in RI | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Scituate | Nashoba |
| High school in town | — | Scituate High School | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| 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.