Compare towns

Wenham vs Dover vs Groton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wenham has the youngest population (median age 29.3).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Groton has the most kids (28.3% under 18).
Wenham is a college town. 27.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureWenhamDoverGroton
People
Population
4,929
2,308Lowest
11,390Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+6.3%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
29.3±9.3Lowest
27% below MA
47.5±4Highest
19% above MA
41.4±2.7
4% above MA
Dover and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.9%±3.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
20.9%±4.8
MA: 19.4%
28.3%±4.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
Groton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.6%±3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
15.5%±3.5
MA: 17.9%
17.3%±2.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
Groton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
70.8%
MA: 47.3%
83.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
70.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
27.8%±1.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
9.4%±4.8
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$194,781±$33k
87% above MA
$250,001Highest
140% above MA
$192,958±$27kLowest
86% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$885,400±$48k
58% above MA
$1,308,300±$149kHighest
133% above MA
$743,400±$46kLowest
32% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly — —
$1,458±$335
17% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+
at least 67% above MA
$10,000+
at least 67% above MA
$10,000+
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.3%±20.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
100%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
43.8%±17
MA: 51.8%
Dover and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.7%
MA: 10%
3.3%Lowest
MA: 10%
3.8%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
97.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
88.8%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
3 yrs older than MA
1967
3 yrs newer than MA
1988Highest
24 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
5% below MA
37 minHighest
26% above MA
32 min
11% above MA
Work from home
29.4%±5.6
MA: 18.6%
37.4%±8.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
27.5%±5.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Dover and Wenham 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 #74 of 282 in MA #1 of 282 in MA #39 of 282 in MA
School district Hamilton-Wenham — Groton-Dunstable
High school in town None in town — Groton Dunstable Regional
Students per teacherat that high school — —
13.7
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.