Compare towns
Washington vs Dover vs Williamstown
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 oldest population (median age 52.9).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Williamstown has the shortest commute (23 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 | Washington | Dover | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056Lowest |
5,930Highest |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
42±5Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Williamstown 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% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Williamstown 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% |
17.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Williamstown 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. |
$94,418±$10k 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$234,900±$24k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,659±$189 17% above U.S. |
| Dover and Williamstown 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. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #1 of 282 in MA | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.