What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).

Brookline has the most renters (53.1% rent).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dover	Brookline
People
Population	5,930Lowest	63,266Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA	35.2±1.2Lowest 12% below MA
Kids under 18	26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4%	18.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%	15.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Dover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	84.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	85.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.2%±2.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	10.8%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Brookline 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 140% above MA	$142,101±$8kLowest 37% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA	$1,246,800±$67kLowest 122% above MA
	Dover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA	$2,835±$82Lowest 61% above MA
	Dover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	46.9%±4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Brookline and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%	8.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	46.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 19% above MA	27 minLowest 7% below MA
Work from home	34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6%	30.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Dover and Brookline 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	#22 of 282 in MA
School district	Dover · Dover-Sherborn	—
High school in town	Dover-Sherborn Regional High	—
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA 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.