Compare towns
Brookfield vs Dover vs Needham vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k median).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Hampden has the shortest commute (26 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 | Brookfield | Dover | Needham | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,460Lowest |
5,930 |
32,459Highest |
4,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
50.9±3.3 27% above MA |
| Brookfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5 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+ | 28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
26.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,250±$37kLowest 22% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$104,536±$16k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$358,200±$16k 36% below MA |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,132±$107 36% 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 | $5,092Lowest 15% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,181 3% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest 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 | #109 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Needham | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.