Compare towns
Dover vs Worcester vs Dover vs Wellesley
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).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k median).
Dover has the most people working from home (37.4%).
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 | Worcester | Dover | Wellesley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930 |
207,055Highest |
2,308Lowest |
30,347 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
37.1±2.2 7% below MA |
| Dover 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±2 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Dover 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4% MA: 47.3% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117k 138% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149k 133% above MA |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
— | $2,886±$360 64% above 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+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.1%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
27 min 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
32%±2.9 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #6 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | — | — |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | South High Community | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
14.6Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.