Compare towns
Wellesley vs Hingham vs Dover vs Winchester
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).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Winchester has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
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 | Hingham | Dover | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,347Highest |
24,283 |
5,930Lowest |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
42.5±1.9 6% above MA |
| Hingham 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% |
23.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Winchester and Dover 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% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
18%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8% MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$178,390±$15kLowest 72% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$230,198±$21k 121% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kLowest 102% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117k 138% above MA |
$1,215,200±$39k 116% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,886±$360 64% above MA |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,279±$481Lowest 29% 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 |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 32%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Winchester 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hingham | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Winchester |
| High school in town | — | Hingham High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
9.8Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.