Compare towns
Sherborn vs Dover vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sherborn has the most people working from home (49.1%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
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 | Sherborn | Dover | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,427Lowest |
5,930Highest |
5,737 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±2.3 7% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
| Dover and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 29.2%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sherborn and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dover and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 82.3% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$205,449±$31kLowest 98% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,026,800±$72k 83% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$796,000±$49kLowest 42% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$316 33% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA |
| Dover and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±26.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100 MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Sherborn and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
94.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 21% above MA |
35 minLowest 19% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 49.1%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Sherborn and Bolton 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 | #53 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sherborn | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| 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.