Compare towns
Harwich vs Dover vs Dennis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Dennis has the most renters (21.1% 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 | Harwich | Dover | Dennis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,598 |
5,930Lowest |
14,868Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±1.5 47% above MA |
44.9±2.3Lowest 12% above MA |
59.5±2Highest 49% above MA |
| Dennis and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.7%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
9%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 35.8%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
39.8%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dennis and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Dennis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,966±$13k 7% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$88,154±$10kLowest 15% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $658,600±$26k 17% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$627,100±$28kLowest 12% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,017±$738 14% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,420±$260Lowest 19% below MA |
| Dover and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,189 30% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$2,877Lowest 52% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.2%±9.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dennis and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.8% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 14% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.3%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.9%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #157 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #238 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Monomoy Regional School District · Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Dennis-Yarmouth |
| High school in town | Monomoy Regional High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 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.