Compare towns

Peru vs Dover vs Florida

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peru has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Florida has the shortest commute (26 min average).

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.

MeasurePeruDoverFlorida
People
Population
630Lowest
5,930Highest
668
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.9%
MA: +7.4%
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-7.7%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
52.6±4.8
32% above MA
44.9±2.3Lowest
12% above MA
56.1±4.4Highest
40% above MA
Florida and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.3%±3.5
MA: 19.4%
26%±5.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
11.5%±3.1Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
29.7%±6.9
MA: 17.9%
16.7%±2.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
30.1%±4.6Highest
MA: 17.9%
Florida and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28%
MA: 47.3%
84.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
24.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
7.2%±2.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.2%±2.6
MA: 7.9%
Dover and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$90,750±$18k
13% below MA
$250,001Highest
140% above MA
$86,875±$17kLowest
16% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$267,400±$15k
52% below MA
$1,340,300±$117kHighest
138% above MA
$246,800±$19kLowest
56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$2,917±$2kHighest
66% above MA
$867±$256Lowest
51% below MA
Dover and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,805
36% below MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$1,894Lowest
68% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
20%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
16.7%±100
MA: 51.8%
Dover and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.2%
MA: 10%
2.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
5.8%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
98.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
97.9%
MA: 62.5%
91.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
19 yrs newer than MA
1970Lowest
6 yrs newer than MA
1978
14 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
7% above MA
35 minHighest
19% above MA
26 minLowest
10% below MA
Work from home
10.3%±4.8
MA: 18.6%
34.2%±6.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
6.4%±2.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #1 of 282 in MA —
School district — Dover · Dover-Sherborn Florida
High school 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 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.