Compare towns
Bristol vs Dover vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($485k median).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Bristol | Dover | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,220 |
5,930Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 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 | 12.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest 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+ | 22.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,764±$8kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,000±$25kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above 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 | $1,579±$118Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above 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 | $5,393Lowest 73% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 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 | #20 of 38 in RI | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bristol Warren | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Needham |
| High school in town | Mt. Hope High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.