Compare towns
Milton vs Dover vs Walpole
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 shortest commute (31 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Walpole has the most affordable homes ($687k 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 | Milton | Dover | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,587Highest |
2,308Lowest |
26,388 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8 about the MA average |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Milton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Walpole and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.9% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±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 |
$171,500±$16kLowest 65% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $933,200±$31k 66% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
— | $2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,677 61% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,523Lowest 42% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Milton 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 8% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Lowest 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 | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Milton | — | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | Milton High | — | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| 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.