Compare towns
Ashfield vs Dover vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashfield has the most affordable homes ($401k median).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Ashfield | Dover | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,893Lowest |
2,308 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
47.5±4 19% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest 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+ | 33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 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 | $80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
— | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,197Lowest 13% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±34 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 24%±6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 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 | — | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | Needham |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
| 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.