Compare towns
Wellesley vs Sutton 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).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k 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 | Sutton | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,347Highest |
9,452 |
5,930Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
| Dover and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest 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% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton 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% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$147,125±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117k 138% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,886±$360 64% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% 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 |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton 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% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 32%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wellesley | Sutton | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | Wellesley Sr High | Sutton High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
12.6Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.