Compare towns
Peru vs Dover vs Windham vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the most renters (21% rent).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
Dorset has the shortest commute (22 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.
| Measure | Peru | Dover | Windham | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
5,930Highest |
594 |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 16% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83k 88% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$105k 20% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
— | $1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
| Dover and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Dorset 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 | — | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school 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 | 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.