Compare towns
Wellesley 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 oldest population (median age 44.9).
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 | Wellesley | Dover | Wellesley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,347Highest |
5,930Lowest |
30,347Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±2Lowest 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+ | 15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dover and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001 140% above MA |
$250,001 140% above MA |
$250,001 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kLowest 138% above MA |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,886±$360Lowest 64% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,886±$360Lowest 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+ 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 | 44.1%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.1%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 32%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32%±2.9Lowest 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 | #6 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #6 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Wellesley |
| High school in town | — | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Wellesley Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.8Highest |
| 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.