Compare towns
Deerfield vs Dover vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has the most affordable homes ($415k median).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Deerfield | Dover | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,158Lowest |
5,930 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest 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+ | 22.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Deerfield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest 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 | $106,136±$14kLowest about the MA average |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | — |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.