Compare towns
Berkley vs Dover vs Needham vs Ashburnham
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%).
Ashburnham has the most affordable homes ($391k 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 | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,829 |
5,930Lowest |
32,459Highest |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.1 9% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
| 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%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6 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+ | 15.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashburnham 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Ashburnham 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 |
$118,809±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,200±$45k 9% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% 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 | — | $2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,807±$1kLowest about the MA average |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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 |
$6,046 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham 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% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 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 | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berkley | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Needham | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.