Compare towns
Danby vs Dorset vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Dorset has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Danby | Dorset | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
2,092 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Danby and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danby and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Dorset 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 | — | — | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Needham |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.