Compare towns
Wellesley vs Hadley vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k median).
Hadley has the most affordable homes ($511k median).
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 | Wellesley | Hadley | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,347Highest |
5,306Lowest |
5,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
| Hadley and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±2 MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest 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+ | 15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Dover 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% |
61.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117k 138% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,886±$360 64% above MA |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wellesley and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 7% below MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 32%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Lowest 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 | #6 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hadley | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | — | Hopkins Academy | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.3Lowest |
9.8Highest |
| 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.