Compare towns
Dover vs Erving vs Wales
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Erving has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Wales has the youngest population (median age 42.3).
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 | Erving | Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,930Highest |
1,703Lowest |
1,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
42.3±4.7Lowest 6% above MA |
| Dover and Erving 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% |
16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.1%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Erving and Wales 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% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
22.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Wales 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 |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$89,006±$6k 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$296,200±$26k 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,104±$242Lowest 37% below MA |
| Dover and Erving 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 |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,534 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
58%±20.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wales and Erving 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% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #1 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Erving | Wales |
| 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.