Compare towns
Dover vs Temple vs Dover 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Temple has the most affordable homes ($401k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Sherborn has the most people working from home (49.1%).
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 | Temple | Dover | Sherborn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308 |
1,363Lowest |
5,930Highest |
4,427 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4 22% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
42.8±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Temple 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% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 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% |
17.8%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Temple and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
82.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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 210% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149k 293% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$1,026,800±$72k 209% above U.S. |
| Dover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$2,338±$316 65% above U.S. |
| Dover and Sherborn 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. |
$6,983Lowest 124% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest 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% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 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. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
35 minLowest 31% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4 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 | — | #1 of 282 in MA | #53 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Contoocook Valley School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Sherborn |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.