Compare towns
Colrain vs Dover vs Needham vs Charlemont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Charlemont has the oldest population (median age 59.6).
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 | Colrain | Dover | Needham | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
5,930 |
32,459Highest |
1,118Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
59.6±6.7Highest 49% above MA |
| Charlemont and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
7%±2.5Lowest 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+ | 30.4%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
41.1%±10.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Charlemont and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
29%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10k 22% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$305,500±$52k 46% 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 | $1,102±$77 37% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,023±$126Lowest 42% 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 | $4,317Lowest 28% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,351 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
56.1%±18.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Charlemont and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
14.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
78.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±6.3 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 | — | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Needham | Hawlemont |
| 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.