Compare towns
Conway vs Dover vs Needham vs Shelburne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Conway has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Shelburne has the most renters (32.2% rent).
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 | Conway | Dover | Needham | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,755 |
2,308 |
32,459Highest |
1,567Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±3 39% above MA |
47.5±4 19% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
57±7.3Highest 43% above MA |
| Shelburne and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest 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+ | 31.9%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
38.4%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Shelburne and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.5% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
51.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8 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 | $97,250±$11k 6% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$83,000±$4kLowest 20% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,900±$25kLowest 30% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$405,400±$32k 28% 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 | $1,800±$990 about the MA average |
— | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,080±$105Lowest 39% below MA |
| Needham and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,797 3% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,595Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
39.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
10.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
67.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 18% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
17.7%±6Lowest 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 | Conway | — | Needham | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.