Compare towns
Milton vs Dover vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milton has the youngest population (median age 41.1).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Westford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
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 | Milton | Dover | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,587Highest |
2,308Lowest |
24,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
42.8±1.2 7% above MA |
| Dover and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.3%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.6%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Westford and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Milton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
73.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Milton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15k 81% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$187,198±$10kLowest 80% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $933,200±$31k 66% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$748,500±$32kLowest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
— | $2,436±$422Highest 38% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,677Lowest 61% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,695 62% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
53%±8 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
27%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Milton 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 | #55 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #20 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Nashoba Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Westford |
| High school in town | — | — | Westford Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.7 |
| 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.