Compare towns
Wellesley vs Bow vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k median).
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k 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 | Bow | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,347Highest |
8,335 |
5,930Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±2.2Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Dover and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bow 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.3%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kLowest 114% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,582,700±$49kHighest 376% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117k 303% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,886±$360 104% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$9,584Lowest 207% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wellesley and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wellesley | Bow School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | Wellesley Sr High | Bow High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
12.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.