Compare towns
Barre vs Dover vs Needham vs Hubbardston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most renters (24.2% rent).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Hubbardston has the most affordable homes ($372k 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 | Barre | Dover | Needham | Hubbardston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
5,930 |
32,459Highest |
4,371Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
46.8±9.1Highest 17% above MA |
| Hubbardston and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±4 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+ | 19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hubbardston and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
33.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kLowest 4% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$123,500±$24k 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$371,600±$18kLowest 34% below MA |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 42% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$953±$206Lowest 46% below MA |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 14% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,716Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.4%±67.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Hubbardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
93.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
14%±4.3 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #128 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Needham | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.9 |
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| 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.