Compare towns
Washington vs Dover vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Topsham has the most renters (9.7% rent).
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 | Washington | Dover | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056 |
5,930Highest |
999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9 29% above U.S. |
| Washington and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$72,308±$60k 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$222,900±$56k 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285 30% below U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$908±$398Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Dover and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,006 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #1 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| 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.