Compare towns
Derry vs Dover vs Needham vs Atkinson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Derry | Dover | Needham | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
5,930Lowest |
32,459 |
7,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest 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+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32k 81% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65k 67% 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 | $1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 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 | $8,103 160% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,918Lowest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% 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. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Needham | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.9 |
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| 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.