Compare towns
Ayer 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
Ayer has the most affordable homes ($464k median).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Needham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Ayer | Dover | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
5,930Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% 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 | 20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 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+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest 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 | $101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% 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 | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% 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 | $5,057Lowest 16% 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 | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Needham |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
9.8Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.