Compare towns
Ashland vs Dover vs Needham vs Framingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Needham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Framingham has the most renters (45.2% 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 | Ashland | Dover | Needham | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,873 |
5,930Lowest |
32,459 |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4 5% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below 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% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6 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% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
48.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $127,539±$11k 23% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$107,419±$6kLowest 3% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $611,700±$18kLowest 9% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$627,300±$10k 12% 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±$298 39% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,033±$57Lowest 15% above MA |
| Dover and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444 24% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,884Lowest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.5% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
10.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest 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 | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Needham | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Ashland High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Needham High | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.9 |
12.7 |
| 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.