Compare towns
Dover vs Wellesley vs Carlisle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Wellesley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Carlisle has the most affordable homes ($1104k 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 | Dover | Wellesley | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
30,347Highest |
5,239 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
45.3±3.1 13% above MA |
| Dover and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±2 MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Carlisle and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Carlisle and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
87.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001 140% above MA |
$250,001 140% above MA |
$250,001 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149k 133% above MA |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$1,103,900±$46kLowest 96% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
$1,313±$855Lowest 25% below MA |
| 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 | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.1%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
77%±21.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% MA: 10% |
4%Highest MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
32%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
38.5%±8.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Carlisle and Dover 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 | #6 of 282 in MA | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Carlisle |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.