Compare towns
Ashland 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
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($612k median).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Ashland | Dover | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,873 |
2,308Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.2Lowest 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+ | 18.2%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Ashland and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Lowest 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 | $127,539±$11kLowest 23% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $611,700±$18kLowest 9% above 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 | $2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
— | $2,409±$183Lowest 37% above MA |
| Ashland and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444Lowest 24% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5% MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
37 min 26% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3Lowest 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 | #42 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | — | Needham |
| High school in town | Ashland High | — | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
| 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.