Compare towns
Medfield vs Reading vs Millis vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Medfield has the most kids (28.2% under 18).
Reading has the most renters (17.6% rent).
Millis has the most affordable homes ($604k 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.
| Measure | Medfield | Reading | Millis | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,068 |
25,612Highest |
8,888 |
5,930Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3Lowest 6% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
| Millis and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Medfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 78.1% MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
54.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $235,800±$32k 127% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$155,996±$9kLowest 50% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $911,100±$32k 62% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$603,500±$31kLowest 7% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$559 15% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,696±$279Lowest 4% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
| Dover and Medfield 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 |
$9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
$9,344 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Medfield and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.2% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Medfield 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 | #26 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Medfield | — | Millis | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | Medfield Senior High | — | Millis High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 10.7 |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.