What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

Charlton has the most homeowners (84.9%).

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.

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

Measure	Dover	Charlton
People
Population	33,364Highest	13,435Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S.	43±4Highest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Charlton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Charlton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S.	$117,587±$8kHighest 46% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S.	$427,500±$19kLowest 28% above U.S.
	Dover and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S.	$1,381±$415Lowest about the U.S. average
	Dover and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,249Highest 164% above U.S.	$4,617Lowest 48% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.3%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dover and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.
Work from home	18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dover and Charlton 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	#64 of 120 in NH	#133 of 282 in MA
School district	Dover School District	Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric
High school in town	Dover Senior High School	Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Highest	9.7Lowest
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.