Compare towns
Dover vs Suffield vs Sherborn vs Carlisle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
Sherborn has the most people working from home (49.1%).
Carlisle has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Suffield | Sherborn | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930 |
15,702Highest |
4,427Lowest |
5,239 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
42.8±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.3±3.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Carlisle and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
29.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Sherborn and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Carlisle and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
82.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$1,026,800±$72k 209% above U.S. |
$1,103,900±$46k 232% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$2,338±$316 65% above U.S. |
$1,313±$855Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$6,456Lowest 107% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
77%±21.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Carlisle and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
49.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
38.5%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sherborn and Carlisle 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #53 of 282 in MA | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Suffield School District | Sherborn | Carlisle |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Suffield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
10.9Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.