Compare towns
Dover vs Dunstable vs Pepperell
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).
Dunstable has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
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 | Dunstable | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,930 |
3,408Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
| Dover and Pepperell 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% |
22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell and Dover 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% |
62.4% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Dunstable 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 |
$208,512±$23k 101% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$674,000±$30k 20% above MA |
$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Dover and Dunstable 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 |
$9,020 51% above MA |
$6,698Lowest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
96.5% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
34 minLowest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #1 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Groton-Dunstable | North Middlesex |
| 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 |
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.