Compare towns
Winchester vs Dover vs Sudbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winchester has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Sudbury has the most affordable homes ($989k 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 | Winchester | Dover | Sudbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,406Highest |
5,930Lowest |
19,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±1.9 6% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
42.3±2.1Lowest 6% above MA |
| Dover and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.6%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sudbury and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Winchester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
83.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $230,198±$21kLowest 121% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$236,250±$17k 127% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,215,200±$39k 116% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$988,900±$42kLowest 76% above MA |
| Dover and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,279±$481 29% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,445±$895Lowest 18% below MA |
| Dover and Winchester 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 | 39.3%±13.3 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.8%±12.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Sudbury and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 8% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.8%±3 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
33%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Winchester 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 | #11 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #15 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Winchester | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Lincoln-Sudbury · Sudbury |
| High school in town | Winchester High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.3 |
| 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.