Compare towns
Dover vs Douglas vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k 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 | Douglas | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,930 |
9,207Highest |
5,737Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
| Dover and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Dover and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Douglas 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 |
$152,267±$10kLowest 46% above MA |
$205,449±$31k 98% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$796,000±$49k 42% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
$1,583±$1k 10% below MA |
| Dover and Bolton 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 67% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Douglas 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% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
34 minLowest 16% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Douglas | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Douglas High School | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
7.2Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.