Compare towns
Whately vs Dover vs Otis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whately has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Otis has the most affordable homes ($397k median).
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 | Whately | Dover | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,499Lowest |
5,930Highest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
44.9±2.3Lowest 12% above MA |
51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
| Otis and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±6.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Otis and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
39.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$108,898±$6kLowest 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$396,700±$40kLowest 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,318±$924 25% below MA |
| Dover and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,027 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Otis 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 | — | #1 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Whately | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Farmington River Reg |
| 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.