Compare towns
Brookline vs Dover vs Needham vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most renters (53.1% rent).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Newton has the shortest commute (27 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 | Brookline | Dover | Needham | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 63,266 |
5,930Lowest |
32,459 |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.2Lowest 12% below MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.1±0.9 5% 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 | 18.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1 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+ | 15.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Newton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 85.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
84.8% MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
81.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Newton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,101±$8kLowest 37% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$190,304±$9k 83% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,246,800±$67k 122% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% above MA |
$1,264,900±$43k 125% above MA |
| Dover and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,835±$82 61% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,370±$81Lowest 35% above MA |
| Dover and Brookline 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 | 46.9%±4 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1942 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 7% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 30.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
32.2%±2 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 | #22 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Needham | Newton |
| High school in town | Brookline High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Needham High | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.9Highest |
10.8 |
| 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.