Compare towns
Douglas vs Dover vs Needham vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Hanson has the youngest population (median age 42.8).
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 | Douglas | Dover | Needham | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
5,930Lowest |
32,459Highest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Dover and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 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+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$132,200±$10kLowest 27% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,821±$860 3% 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 | $6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Needham | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Needham High | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
9.8 |
11.9 |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.