Compare towns
Brookline 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
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($544k median).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Needham has the shortest commute (28 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736 |
2,308Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.5±4Highest 22% 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 | 26.7%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4kLowest 112% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kLowest 64% above U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% 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 | $2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
— | $2,409±$183Lowest 70% above U.S. |
| Brookline 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline School District | — | Needham |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 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.