Compare towns
Dover vs Hatfield vs Williamsburg
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).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Williamsburg has the most affordable homes ($403k 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 | Hatfield | Williamsburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,930Highest |
3,325 |
2,694Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Lowest 12% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
| Williamsburg and Hatfield 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% |
18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Williamsburg 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% |
22.7%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield and Williamsburg 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% |
48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Williamsburg 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 |
$104,792±$21k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,420±$228 19% below MA |
| Dover and Williamsburg 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 |
$5,761 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #1 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Hatfield | Williamsburg |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Smith Academy | None in town |
| 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.