Compare towns
Dalton vs Dover vs Needham vs Deerfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 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 | Dalton | Dover | Needham | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256 |
5,930 |
32,459Highest |
5,158Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
| Deerfield and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest 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+ | 27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$414,900±$37k 26% 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 | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,334±$318 24% 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 | $4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
78.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | — | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | — | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
9.8Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| 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.