Compare towns
Dover vs Sullivan 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 kids (26% under 18).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k 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 | Sullivan | Wellesley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,930 |
687Lowest |
30,347Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
46.6±6.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
37.1±2.2Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Sullivan and Dover 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% |
16.3%±5Lowest 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%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sullivan 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
89%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
18.3%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$106,667±$20kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117k 303% above U.S. |
$236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 376% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,225±$275Lowest 13% 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. |
$5,099Lowest 63% 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% |
40%±84.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wellesley and Sullivan 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% |
4.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest 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 | — | #6 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | — | — |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | — | — |
| 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.