Compare towns
Dover vs Needham vs Nelson 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
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k median).
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 | Needham | Nelson | Wellesley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930 |
32,459Highest |
648Lowest |
30,347 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
37.1±2.2Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
89%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
18.3%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117k 303% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 376% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | — | #6 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | — | Nelson School District | Wellesley |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | — | None in town | Wellesley Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | — | 10.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.