Compare towns
Dover vs Salisbury vs Townshend
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%).
Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($479k median).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Salisbury | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466Lowest |
9,281Highest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5Lowest 32% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Townshend and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Townshend 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% |
25.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dover and Salisbury 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% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury 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. |
$93,361±$6kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
| Salisbury and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$287,200±$79kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,074±$80 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,604 48% above U.S. |
$5,364Highest 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Salisbury 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% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend 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 | — | #240 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Triton | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
| 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.