Compare towns

Pinehurst vs Dover vs Burlington

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pinehurst has the most affordable homes ($624k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Burlington has the most renters (25.8% rent).

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.

MeasurePinehurstDoverBurlington
People
Population
6,845
2,308Lowest
26,274Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+7.7%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±2Lowest
7% above MA
47.5±4Highest
19% above MA
45.9±2.2
15% above MA
Dover and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±4.1
MA: 19.4%
20.9%±4.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
17.1%±2.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Dover and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.1%±3.2
MA: 17.9%
15.5%±3.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
21.9%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
Burlington and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.2%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
83.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
58.4%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±1.8
MA: 7.9%
9.4%±4.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.6%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Dover and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$146,250±$27kLowest
41% above MA
$250,001Highest
140% above MA
$146,436±$14k
41% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$623,800±$22kLowest
11% above MA
$1,308,300±$149kHighest
133% above MA
$740,600±$35k
32% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,946±$1kLowest
10% above MA
—
$2,718±$368Highest
54% above MA
Burlington and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,316
5% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$6,165Lowest
about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32%±58.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
100%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
50.4%±10.7
MA: 51.8%
Dover and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.9%Lowest
MA: 10%
3.3%
MA: 10%
5.9%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.4%
MA: 62.5%
97.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
74.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Highest
8 yrs newer than MA
1967Lowest
3 yrs newer than MA
1972Highest
8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
7% below MA
37 minHighest
26% above MA
28 min
5% below MA
Work from home
13.1%±3.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
37.4%±8.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
22.5%±3.2
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #1 of 282 in MA #83 of 282 in MA
School district — — Burlington
High school in town — — Burlington High
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.3
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.