Compare towns
Boxford vs Dover vs Needham vs Harvard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boxford has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Boxford | Dover | Needham | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,208 |
5,930Lowest |
32,459Highest |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±3.6Highest 23% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
| Boxford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±5 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5Lowest 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+ | 21.2%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Boxford and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.9% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
62%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest 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 | $200,871±$21kLowest 93% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$213,996±$24k 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $907,000±$46k 61% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$833,600±$54kLowest 48% 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 | $776±$13Lowest 56% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
| Dover and Needham 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 |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.2%±60.6 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.1% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Harvard 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 | #34 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Boxford · Masconomet | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | — | Harvard |
| High school in town | Masconomet Regional High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | — | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— | 11.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.