Compare towns
Bolton 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
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Needham has the shortest commute (28 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 | Bolton | Dover | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,737 |
2,308Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 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 | $205,449±$31kLowest 98% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49kLowest 42% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% 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 | $1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA |
— | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Needham and Bolton 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 | 12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 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 | 2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
37 min 26% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Bolton and Dover 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 | #28 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | — | Needham |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | — | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.