Compare towns
Wellesley vs Walpole 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Walpole | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,347Highest |
26,388 |
5,930Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
40.9±1.2 about the MA average |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Walpole 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% |
16.9%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Walpole 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% |
67.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$171,500±$16kLowest 65% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117k 138% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,886±$360 64% above MA |
$2,205±$222Lowest 25% above 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 |
$8,523Lowest 42% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wellesley and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 32%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Lowest 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wellesley | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | Wellesley Sr High | Walpole High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
11.3Highest |
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.