Compare towns
Dover vs Athol vs Chilmark vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Dover | Athol | Chilmark | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308 |
12,011 |
1,578Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4 19% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
| Chilmark and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.1% MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149k 133% above MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
| Chilmark and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,485 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | — | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Athol-Royalston | Up-Island Regional | Needham |
| High school in town | — | Athol High | None in town | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
| 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.