Compare towns
Harvard vs Sutton vs Dover vs Devens
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).
Devens has the most renters (20.7% rent).
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 | Harvard | Sutton | Dover | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
9,452Highest |
5,930 |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Lowest 10% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
| Devens and Dover 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%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest 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%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest 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% |
5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Devens 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 |
$189,250±$63k 82% 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 |
$556,800±$96k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,500±$539 15% below MA |
| Dover and Devens 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 |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,556Lowest 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Harvard 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% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below 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% |
28.5%±11.5 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 | 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.