Compare towns
Berkley vs Dover vs Needham vs Halifax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berkley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($482k 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 | Berkley | Dover | Needham | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,829 |
2,308Lowest |
32,459Highest |
7,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.1 9% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
| Dover and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 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 | $144,205±$49k 39% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,200±$45k 9% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$481,500±$51kLowest 14% 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 | — | — | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,018Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,840 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 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 | #155 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berkley | — | Needham | Halifax |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.