Compare towns
Wellfleet vs Dover vs Provincetown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Provincetown has the shortest commute (13 min average).
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 | Wellfleet | Dover | Provincetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,404 |
5,930Highest |
3,703Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+24.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±4.1Highest 46% above MA |
44.9±2.3Lowest 12% above MA |
56.3±2.6 41% above MA |
| Wellfleet and Provincetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 35.3%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Wellfleet and Provincetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.6% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
9.6%±6.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Provincetown and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,938±$27kLowest 13% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$136,904±$44k 32% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,300±$70kLowest 52% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$902,200±$180k 61% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,563±$597 11% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,261±$415Lowest 28% below MA |
| Dover and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,862Lowest 19% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,927 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Provincetown and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
76.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
13 minLowest 55% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.7%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Provincetown 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 | — | #1 of 282 in MA | #254 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wellfleet | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Provincetown |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.