Compare towns

Dover vs Dighton vs Wellesley

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).
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.

MeasureDoverDightonWellesley
People
Population
5,930Lowest
8,193
30,347Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+14.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+5.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.9±2.3Highest
12% above MA
42.7±2.9
7% above MA
37.1±2.2Lowest
7% below MA
Dover and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
26%±5.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
21%±4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
24.1%±2
MA: 19.4%
Dover and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.7%±2.9
MA: 17.9%
17.5%±3.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
15.5%±1.3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Dighton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
84.8%
MA: 47.3%
35.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
89%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.2%±2.7
MA: 7.9%
4.2%±2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
18.3%±0.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$250,001Highest
140% above MA
$136,646±$19kLowest
31% above MA
$250,001Highest
140% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,340,300±$117k
138% above MA
$501,900±$47kLowest
11% below MA
$1,582,700±$49kHighest
182% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,917±$2kHighest
66% above MA
$1,405±$192Lowest
20% below MA
$2,886±$360
64% above MA
Dover and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$6,452Lowest
8% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
20%±100
MA: 51.8%
11.8%±16.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
44.1%±8.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
Wellesley and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
2.9%
MA: 10%
4%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
90.1%
MA: 62.5%
84.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970
6 yrs newer than MA
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
1955Lowest
9 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
19% above MA
31 min
6% above MA
27 minLowest
7% below MA
Work from home
34.2%±6.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
11%±3.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
32%±2.9
MA: 18.6%
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 #1 of 282 in MA #85 of 282 in MA #6 of 282 in MA
School district Dover · Dover-Sherborn Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth —
High school in town Dover-Sherborn Regional High Bristol County Agricultural High —
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Lowest
11.9Highest
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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.