Compare towns
Dover vs Sterling 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%).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Wellesley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Sterling | Wellesley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,930 |
3,629Lowest |
30,347Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
37.1±2.2Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Dover and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Lowest 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+ | 16.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
89%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
18.3%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117k 303% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 376% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
— | $2,886±$360Lowest 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. |
$4,551Lowest 46% 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% |
32%±18.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wellesley and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT | #6 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Sterling School District | — |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.