Compare towns
Atkinson vs Dover vs Needham vs Enfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Enfield has the most affordable homes ($391k 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 | Atkinson | Dover | Needham | Enfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,267 |
5,930 |
32,459Highest |
4,475Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8 47% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
58.3±5.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Enfield and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
7.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Enfield and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
43% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32k 81% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$95,474±$19kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65k 67% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$390,800±$71kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,181±$563 16% below U.S. |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 122% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,203Lowest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.8%±16.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #5 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Needham | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.