Compare towns
Dover vs Hatfield vs Rowley
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 highest household income ($250k).
Hatfield has the most affordable homes ($441k median).
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
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 | Hatfield | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,930Highest |
3,325 |
1,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Lowest 12% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
46.3±16.7 16% above MA |
| Hatfield and Rowley 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% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±6.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Rowley 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% |
23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
57.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Dover 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 |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$109,622±$17k 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$614,800±$39k 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,663±$674 6% below MA |
| Dover and Rowley 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 |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$6,865 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
46.3%±45.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Hatfield 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
6.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
25 min 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #1 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Hatfield | — |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Smith Academy | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
6.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.