What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dorset has the most affordable homes ($569k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dorset	Needham
People
Population	2,092Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S.	43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Dorset and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24%±5.5Lowest 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+	21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dorset and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	72.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±2.1Lowest 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	$111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S.	$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$569,200±$57kLowest 71% above U.S.	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average	$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,489Lowest 140% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	55.9%±8.5Lowest 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	11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 18% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	29.3%±7.5Lowest 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	Needham
High school 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

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.