Compare towns

Sherborn vs Dover vs Natick

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).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).

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.

MeasureSherbornDoverNatick
People
Population
4,427Lowest
5,930
36,873Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.8%
MA: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+12.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.8±2.3Lowest
7% above MA
44.9±2.3Highest
12% above MA
43.3±1.4
8% above MA
Dover and Natick 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%
21.2%±1.9Lowest
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%±3.3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
16.7%±2.9
MA: 17.9%
20.4%±1.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
Natick and Dover 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%
70.8%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±1.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
7.2%±2.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
5%±1
MA: 7.9%
Dover and Natick 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
$138,538±$11kLowest
33% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,026,800±$72k
83% above MA
$1,340,300±$117kHighest
138% above MA
$821,000±$25kLowest
46% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,338±$316
33% above MA
$2,917±$2kHighest
66% above MA
$2,134±$124Lowest
21% above 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+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$8,914Lowest
49% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48%±26.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
20%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
41.7%±6.6
MA: 51.8%
Sherborn and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.1%
MA: 10%
2.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
5.8%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.2%
MA: 62.5%
97.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
68.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
4 yrs newer than MA
1970Highest
6 yrs newer than MA
1968Lowest
4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
21% above MA
35 min
19% above MA
31 minLowest
5% above MA
Work from home
49.1%±7.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
34.2%±6.4
MA: 18.6%
25.1%±1.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #53 of 282 in MA #1 of 282 in MA #48 of 282 in MA
School district Sherborn Dover · Dover-Sherborn Natick
High school in town None in town Dover-Sherborn Regional High Natick High
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.8Lowest
12.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.