Compare towns
Hatfield vs Dover vs Boylston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Hatfield | Dover | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
5,930Highest |
4,948 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
44.9±2.3Lowest 12% above MA |
48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
| Boylston and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$140,962±$28k 36% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$578,600±$47k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,032±$350 15% above MA |
| Dover and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,266 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Boylston and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Boylston 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
9.8 |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.