Compare towns

Dover vs Wellfleet vs Dover

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 most kids (26% under 18).
Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).
Dover has the most people working from home (37.4%).

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.

MeasureDoverWellfleetDover
People
Population
5,930Highest
4,404
2,308Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+29.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+8.3%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.9±2.3Lowest
12% above MA
58.4±4.1Highest
46% above MA
47.5±4
19% above MA
Kids under 18
26%±5.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
14.4%±5.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
20.9%±4.8
MA: 19.4%
Dover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.7%±2.9
MA: 17.9%
35.3%±5.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
15.5%±3.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
84.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
64.6%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
83.4%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.2%±2.7
MA: 7.9%
3%±2.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
9.4%±4.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
Dover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$250,001Highest
140% above MA
$117,938±$27kLowest
13% above MA
$250,001Highest
140% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,340,300±$117kHighest
138% above MA
$855,300±$70kLowest
52% above MA
$1,308,300±$149k
133% above MA
Dover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,917±$2kHighest
66% above MA
$1,563±$597Lowest
11% below MA
—
Dover and Wellfleet 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
$4,862Lowest
19% below MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
20%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
28.6%±23.8
MA: 51.8%
100%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
Dover and Wellfleet 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%
9.2%Highest
MA: 10%
3.3%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
85.5%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
97.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970
6 yrs newer than MA
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
1967Lowest
3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 min
19% above MA
35 minLowest
19% above MA
37 minHighest
26% above MA
Work from home
34.2%±6.4
MA: 18.6%
20.7%±7.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
37.4%±8.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
Dover 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 — #1 of 282 in MA
School district Dover · Dover-Sherborn Wellfleet —
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

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.