Compare towns

Brooklyn vs Dover vs Wellesley

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k median).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k 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.

MeasureBrooklynDoverWellesley
People
Population
8,517
5,930Lowest
30,347Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±2.5Highest
17% above U.S.
44.9±2.3
15% above U.S.
37.1±2.2Lowest
5% below U.S.
Brooklyn and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.6%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
24.1%±2
U.S.: 22%
Dover and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.7%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brooklyn and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
84.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
89%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.2%±2.7
U.S.: 6.4%
18.3%±0.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$96,207±$15kLowest
19% above U.S.
$250,001Highest
210% above U.S.
$250,001Highest
210% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$315,200±$28kLowest
5% below U.S.
$1,340,300±$117k
303% above U.S.
$1,582,700±$49kHighest
376% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$98Lowest
20% below U.S.
$2,917±$2kHighest
106% above U.S.
$2,886±$360
104% above U.S.
Dover and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,538Lowest
45% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.5%±19.3
U.S.: 51.1%
20%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Wellesley and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
97.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1970
10 yrs older than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
35 minHighest
31% above U.S.
27 min
3% above U.S.
Work from home
10.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
34.2%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
32%±2.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Dover and Wellesley 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 #113 of 149 in CT #1 of 282 in MA #6 of 282 in MA
School district Brooklyn School District Dover · Dover-Sherborn —
High school in town None in town Dover-Sherborn Regional High —
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.8
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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.