Compare towns
Randolph Town vs Dover vs Methuen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Randolph Town has the most renters (28.7% rent).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Methuen has the shortest commute (28 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 | Randolph Town | Dover | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,878 |
5,930Lowest |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6% MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.3±1.8 3% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average |
| Dover and Randolph Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Randolph Town and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Randolph Town and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,573±$6kLowest 5% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,400±$21kLowest 12% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,103±$98 19% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,749±$91Lowest about the MA average |
| Dover and Randolph Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,644 6% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,061Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±10.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Randolph Town and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #260 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Randolph | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Methuen |
| High school in town | Randolph High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
9.8Lowest |
13.1 |
| 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.