Compare towns
Stow vs Dover vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stow has the most affordable homes ($730k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Topsfield 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 | Stow | Dover | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,165Highest |
5,930Lowest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
| Dover and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.1% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $185,809±$22kLowest 79% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$195,718±$16k 88% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39kLowest 30% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$853,400±$40k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Dover and Stow 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 | 59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Dover 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 | #44 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Topsfield |
| 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 |
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.