Compare towns
Dorset vs Needham vs Danby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Dorset | Needham | Danby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092 |
32,459Highest |
1,133Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
52.6±4.8Highest 35% 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 | 24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest 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%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±2.6Highest 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+ | 72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.9Lowest 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±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$77,321±$13kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$272,400±$41kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489 140% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,543Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±34.6Lowest 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% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.1Lowest 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town |
| 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.