Compare towns
Dover vs Epping vs Epsom 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 the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k 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 | Epping | Epsom | Sherborn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930 |
7,430Highest |
4,939 |
4,427Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
47.1±3.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
42.8±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Epsom and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.9Lowest 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+ | 16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Epsom 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% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
82.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Epsom 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. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$97,941±$13kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$338,400±$19kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,026,800±$72k 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,212±$437Lowest 14% below 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. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$6,210Lowest 99% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
71.2%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epsom and Epping 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% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
49.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #1 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #69 of 120 in NH | #53 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Epping School District | Epsom School District | Sherborn |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
9.3Lowest |
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| 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.