Compare towns
Dover vs Dummer vs Sherborn vs Topsfield
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 ($1340k median).
Dummer has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Sherborn has the most people working from home (49.1%).
Topsfield has the youngest population (median age 42.2).
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 | Dummer | Sherborn | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930 |
299Lowest |
4,427 |
6,564Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
42.8±2.3 10% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
29.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7 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+ | 16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsfield and Dummer 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
16.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
82.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Topsfield 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. |
$91,250±$21kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16k 142% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$242,200±$51kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,026,800±$72k 209% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40k 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
— | $2,338±$316 65% above U.S. |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below 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. |
$2,898Lowest 7% below 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 | 20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±26.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sherborn and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
49.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #1 of 282 in MA | — | #53 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | — | Sherborn | Topsfield |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.