Compare towns
Brewer vs Dover vs Needham vs Ellsworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Brewer | Dover | Needham | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,652 |
5,930Lowest |
32,459Highest |
8,657 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
43±2.4 11% above U.S. |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brewer and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$77,375±$18k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,374 8% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #32 of 133 in ME | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #63 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Needham | Ellsworth Public Schools |
| High school in town | Brewer High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Needham High | Ellsworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.9 |
12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → |
U.S. 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.