Compare towns
Reading vs Dover vs West Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most renters (15.1% rent).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
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 | Reading | Dover | West Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
5,930Highest |
1,171 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+22.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
54±5.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±10 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$108,750±$18k 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$393,500±$41k 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,100±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Dover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,860 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Mount Ascutney School District #86 |
| 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.