Compare towns
Dover vs Gardner vs Wilmington
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Gardner has the most kids (18.3% under 18).
Wilmington has the oldest population (median age 59.1).
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 | Gardner | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466Lowest |
21,148Highest |
1,747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
59.1±4.8Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Wilmington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32.6%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilmington and Dover 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% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gardner 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. |
$67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
$70,000±$23kHighest 13% below U.S. |
| Wilmington and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55kHighest about the U.S. average |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$287,700±$16kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Dover and Gardner 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. |
$1,109±$51Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,106±$95 22% below U.S. |
| Gardner and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 45% above U.S. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$5,299Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±23 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Gardner 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Gardner | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.