What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).

Barre has the highest household income ($108k).

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	Barre
People
Population	1,466Lowest	5,572Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.5±8.3Highest 38% above U.S.	43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Dover and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Barre and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dover and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Barre and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S.	$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$332,900±$55kLowest about the U.S. average	$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S.
	Barre and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S.	$1,030±$713Highest 27% below U.S.
	Barre and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,510Lowest 45% above U.S.	$5,163Highest 66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	38.2%±27.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Barre and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.
Work from home	23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dover and Barre 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	—	#134 of 282 in MA
School district	River Valleys Unified School District #73	Quabbin
High school in town	None in town	Quabbin Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.9
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.