Compare towns
Weston vs Dover vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Weston has the most expensive homes ($1694k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Newton has the most renters (30% rent).
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 | Weston | Dover | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,579 |
2,308Lowest |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.1 12% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
42.1±0.9Lowest 5% above MA |
| Dover and Weston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Weston and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Weston and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
83.4% MA: 47.3% |
81.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Newton and Weston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$190,304±$9kLowest 83% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,694,400±$263kHighest 201% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149k 133% above MA |
$1,264,900±$43kLowest 125% above MA |
| Weston and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,085±$809Lowest 18% above MA |
— | $2,370±$81Highest 35% above MA |
| Newton and Weston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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 | 69%±23 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Weston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.2%±2 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Newton 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 | #9 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Weston | — | Newton |
| High school in town | Weston High | — | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 10.8Lowest |
| 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.