Compare towns
Newton vs Dover vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Newton | Dover | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,836 |
5,930Highest |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7 23% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dunbarton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,487±$29k 72% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21kLowest 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $459,500±$18kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$96 19% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Dover and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,124Lowest 160% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,233 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #70 of 120 in NH | #1 of 282 in MA | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.