Compare towns
Dover vs Windsor vs Weston 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%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Weston has the most expensive homes ($1694k median).
Wellesley has the youngest population (median age 37.1).
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 | Windsor | Weston | Wellesley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930Lowest |
29,468 |
11,579 |
30,347Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.7±1.9 12% above U.S. |
44.9±2.1Highest 15% above U.S. |
37.1±2.2Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
89%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
18.3%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$104,725±$8kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117k 303% above U.S. |
$305,200±$11kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,694,400±$263kHighest 409% above U.S. |
$1,582,700±$49k 376% above U.S. |
| Weston and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,681±$62Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$2,085±$809 48% above 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. |
$5,351Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
44.9%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±23Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Weston and Windsor 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% |
6.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±5.2 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 | #117 of 149 in CT | #9 of 282 in MA | #6 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Weston | — |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Windsor High School | Weston High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
10.2 |
10.9Highest |
— |
| 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.