Compare towns
Wellesley vs Chilmark vs Dover vs Needham
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 youngest population (median age 37.1).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Needham has the most affordable homes ($1189k median).
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 | Chilmark | Dover | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,347 |
1,578Lowest |
5,930 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
| Chilmark 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% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham 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% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8% MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$168,750±$28kLowest 62% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,582,700±$49k 182% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117k 138% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% above MA |
| Chilmark and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,886±$360 64% above MA |
$2,750±$2k 56% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,409±$183Lowest 37% 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 |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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% |
4.1%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 32%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wellesley | Up-Island Regional | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | — |
| High school in town | Wellesley Sr High | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.