Compare towns
Dover vs Reading vs Stoneham vs Weston
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 people working from home (34.2%).
Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1960).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Weston has the most expensive homes ($1694k 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 | Reading | Stoneham | Weston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930Lowest |
25,612Highest |
23,355 |
11,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
44.9±2.1Highest 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
20%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Stoneham 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% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
9.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Weston 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 |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117k 138% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA |
$1,694,400±$263kHighest 201% above MA |
| Weston and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$2,085±$809 18% above MA |
| Dover and Weston 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 |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
69%±23Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Weston and Stoneham 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±5.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #9 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Reading | Stoneham | Weston |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Reading Memorial High | Stoneham High | Weston High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.1Highest |
10.7 |
10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.