Compare towns
Berlin vs Dover vs Needham vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most renters (22.7% rent).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Needham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k 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 | Berlin | Dover | Needham | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
5,930 |
32,459Highest |
2,872Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
48.9±4.2 22% above MA |
| Berlin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±4.1 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+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
42.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3 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 | $121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$103,375±$10kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$375,800±$31kLowest 33% 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 | $2,420±$933 37% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
| Dover and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116 19% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,594Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3Lowest 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Needham | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Needham High | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
11.9Highest |
10.7 |
| 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.