Compare towns
Dover vs Lawrence 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 oldest population (median age 44.9).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
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.
| Measure | Dover | Lawrence | Wellesley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,930Lowest |
88,736Highest |
30,347 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
37.1±2.2 7% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Dover and Wellesley 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% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117k 138% above MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,662±$50Lowest 6% 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 |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.1%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
27 min 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #6 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Lawrence | — |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Lawrence High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
13.6Highest |
— |
| 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.