Compare towns
Dover vs Wellesley vs Bolton
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).
Wellesley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
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 | Wellesley | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,930 |
30,347Highest |
5,737Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
41.2±1.7 3% above MA |
| Dover and Bolton 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% |
24.1%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Bolton 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% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Dover and Bolton 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% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$205,449±$31kLowest 98% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117k 138% above MA |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$796,000±$49kLowest 42% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,886±$360 64% above MA |
$1,583±$1kLowest 10% below 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+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100 MA: 51.8% |
44.1%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest 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% |
4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
32%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Bolton and Dover 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 | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Wellesley | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Wellesley Sr High | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
10.8 |
12.0Highest |
| 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.