Compare towns
Dover vs Northfield vs Bolton
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).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
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 | Northfield | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,930Highest |
2,872Lowest |
5,737 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
| Northfield and Dover 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% |
14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Bolton 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% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Northfield 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 |
$103,375±$10kLowest about the MA average |
$205,449±$31k 98% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA |
$796,000±$49k 42% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,583±$1k 10% below MA |
| Dover and Bolton 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 |
$4,594Lowest 23% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100 MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northfield and Dover 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% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
31 minLowest 8% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Bolton and Dover 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 | #231 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Pioneer Valley | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Pioneer Valley Regional | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
10.7 |
12.0Highest |
| 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.