What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).

Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dover	Orange
People
Population	5,930Highest	957Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.9±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S.	50.3±5.3Highest 29% above U.S.
	Orange 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 U.S.: 22%	15.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.4%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Orange and Dover 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%	22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$250,001Highest 210% above U.S.	$71,302±$13kLowest 12% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S.	$222,000±$22kLowest 33% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S.	$1,330±$153Lowest 6% below U.S.
	Dover and Orange 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.	$3,545Lowest 14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dover and Orange 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%	7.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	87.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#1 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Dover · Dover-Sherborn	Echo Valley Community Union School District #67
High school in town	Dover-Sherborn Regional High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.