Compare towns
Upton vs Wellesley vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
Wellesley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Upton | Wellesley | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189 |
30,347Highest |
5,930Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
| Upton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±2 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest 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+ | 20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
84.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33kLowest 50% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117k 138% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,886±$360 64% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% 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 | $8,376Lowest 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.1%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
84.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #6 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Wellesley | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Wellesley Sr High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
10.8 |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.