Compare towns
Conway vs Dover vs Needham vs Meredith
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Conway has the most affordable homes ($314k median).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,141 |
5,930Lowest |
32,459Highest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55±4.1 41% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 35.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Conway and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $64,385±$8kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $314,000±$43kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% 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 | $1,095±$141Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,087Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±13.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 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 | #76 of 120 in NH | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Conway School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Needham | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Kennett High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Needham High | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
9.8Lowest |
11.9Highest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.