Compare towns
Dover vs Ware vs Marlboro
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 the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Ware has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
Marlboro has the youngest population (median age 22.7).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Ware | Marlboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466 |
10,048Highest |
1,362Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+59.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
22.7±2.1Lowest 42% below U.S. |
| Dover and Ware 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dover and Ware 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
42.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$77,135±$10kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Marlboro and Ware 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$357,300±$55kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Marlboro 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. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,600±$824Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Marlboro and Ware 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. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$5,640Highest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±43.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Marlboro 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26%±11.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marlboro 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Ware | Marlboro School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.