Compare towns
Dover vs Dalton vs Needham vs Dover
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 most people working from home (37.4%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k 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 | Dover | Dalton | Needham | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
6,256 |
32,459Highest |
5,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4 19% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
| Dalton 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% |
20.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 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+ | 15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Dover 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 |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149k 133% above MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
| Dover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Dover 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Central Berkshire | Needham | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | — | Wahconah Regional High | Needham High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
11.9Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.