Compare towns
Beverly vs Dover vs Needham vs Woburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beverly has the most affordable homes ($650k median).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Woburn has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Beverly | Dover | Needham | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
2,308Lowest |
32,459 |
41,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
39.3±1.6 about the MA average |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.9%±1.7Lowest 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+ | 19.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Beverly and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
46.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Beverly and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$111,185±$9k 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13kLowest 16% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$673,500±$17k 20% 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 | $1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average |
— | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,221±$77 26% above MA |
| Needham and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 14% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,354Lowest 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.5Lowest 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 | 9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
16%±2.6Lowest 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 | #144 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | — | — | Woburn |
| High school in town | Beverly High | — | — | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | — | 11.2Lowest |
| 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.