Compare towns
Croydon vs Dover vs Needham vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Croydon has the youngest population (median age 43).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
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 | Croydon | Dover | Needham | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 798Lowest |
5,930 |
32,459Highest |
916 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±9.1Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
44.5±12.9 14% above U.S. |
| Dover and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±11.3 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+ | 27.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4.3 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 | $98,333±$21k 22% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$81,429±$36kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $317,300±$33k 5% below U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$191,400±$68kLowest 42% below 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 | $991±$336 30% below U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$900±$825Lowest 36% 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 | $3,806 22% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,561Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±75.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±83.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dalton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.3%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.9%±2.7 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 | — | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Croydon School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Needham | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.