Compare towns
Nelson vs Dover vs Newington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k median).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Newington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Nelson | Dover | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
5,930Highest |
939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Newington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newington and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46k 81% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46k 159% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$2,292±$795 62% above U.S. |
| Dover and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,081 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newington and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Nelson 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 | — | #1 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Newington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
U.S. 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.