Compare towns
Dover vs Montgomery vs Townsend
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%).
Montgomery has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Montgomery | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,047Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 38% above U.S. |
51.5±11.3 32% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Dover and Montgomery 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% |
15.5%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Montgomery 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Montgomery 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. |
$53,289±$24k 34% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$323,200±$45kLowest about the U.S. average |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$868±$209 39% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 45% above U.S. |
$4,326Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.6%±68Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Montgomery and Townsend 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% |
15.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Montgomery 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 | — | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| 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.