Compare towns
Dover vs Sherborn vs Webster
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).
Sherborn has the most people working from home (49.1%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Sherborn | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,930 |
4,427Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
42.8±2.3 7% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Dover and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
29.2%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sherborn and Dover 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% |
16.3%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Webster 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 MA: 47.3% |
82.3% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Webster 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$1,026,800±$72k 83% above MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,338±$316 33% above MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
| Dover and Sherborn 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48%±26.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Sherborn and Webster 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% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.2% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
49.1%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #1 of 282 in MA | #53 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Sherborn | Webster |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
| 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.