Compare towns

Harvard vs Sutton vs Dover

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).

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.

MeasureHarvardSuttonDover
People
Population
6,927
9,452Highest
5,930Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%
MA: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.1±4.7Lowest
10% above MA
44.3±2.5
11% above MA
44.9±2.3Highest
12% above MA
Dover and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.1%±4.5
MA: 19.4%
19.6%±3.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
26%±5.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
Dover and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.3%±2.8Lowest
MA: 17.9%
18.8%±3.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
16.7%±2.9
MA: 17.9%
Sutton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
62%
MA: 47.3%
52.8%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
84.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±1.8
MA: 7.9%
7.2%±2.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
Dover and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$213,996±$24k
106% above MA
$147,125±$25kLowest
42% above MA
$250,001Highest
140% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$833,600±$54k
48% above MA
$523,100±$47kLowest
7% below MA
$1,340,300±$117kHighest
138% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,321±$424
25% below MA
$1,190±$401Lowest
32% below MA
$2,917±$2kHighest
66% above MA
Dover and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$6,763Lowest
13% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
72.5%±51.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
47.5%±24.4
MA: 51.8%
20%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Harvard and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.5%
MA: 10%
5.8%Highest
MA: 10%
2.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89.7%
MA: 62.5%
97.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
11 yrs newer than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1970Lowest
6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
9% above MA
30 minLowest
about the MA average
35 minHighest
19% above MA
Work from home
44.8%±6.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
22.7%±4.1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
34.2%±6.4
MA: 18.6%
Harvard 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 #12 of 282 in MA #105 of 282 in MA #1 of 282 in MA
School district Harvard Sutton Dover · Dover-Sherborn
High school in town The Bromfield High School Sutton High School Dover-Sherborn Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.0
12.6Highest
9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 12 photos → None yet None yet

MA 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.