Compare towns
Bartlett vs Dover vs Needham vs Kingston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bartlett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Needham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Kingston has the most renters (25.6% 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 | Bartlett | Dover | Needham | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,281Lowest |
5,930 |
32,459Highest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.4±4.7Highest 48% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7 43% above U.S. |
| Bartlett and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 7.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9 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+ | 36.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bartlett and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.1%±0.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $59,754±$9kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$105,330±$12k 30% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,400±$78kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$492,900±$58k 48% 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 | $1,676±$97 19% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,393±$156Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,512Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,906 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.5%±37.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bartlett and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3 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 | #74 of 120 in NH | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bartlett School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | — | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | — | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
| 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.