Compare towns
Dover vs Washington 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).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($359k median).
Carlisle has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).
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 | Washington | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,930Highest |
1,208Lowest |
5,239 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
55±4.7Highest 41% above U.S. |
45.3±3.1 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Carlisle and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Washington 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. |
$89,453±$12kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$358,600±$32kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$1,103,900±$46k 232% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,106±$160Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,313±$855 7% below U.S. |
| Dover and Carlisle 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. |
$4,321Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77%±21.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Carlisle and Dover 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minLowest 31% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
38.5%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Carlisle 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 | — | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Washington School District | Carlisle |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.