Compare towns
Ashby vs Dover vs Needham vs Becket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Becket has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
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 | Ashby | Dover | Needham | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211 |
5,930 |
32,459Highest |
1,962Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
| Ashby and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
45.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,107±$1k 20% above MA |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034 about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
97.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Needham 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | — | Central Berkshire |
| 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 | 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.