Compare towns
Bedford 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
Bedford has the most affordable homes ($899k median).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Bedford | Dover | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,727 |
5,930Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.6 11% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Dover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.7Lowest 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+ | 19.1%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bedford and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,400±$23kLowest 66% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $898,500±$43kLowest 60% above 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 | $2,622±$327 49% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,409±$183Lowest 37% above MA |
| Dover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Bedford 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 | #7 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bedford | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Needham |
| High school in town | Bedford High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
9.8Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.