Compare towns
Dover vs Danvers vs Needham vs Carlisle
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 expensive homes ($1308k median).
Danvers has the most affordable homes ($644k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Carlisle has the most people working from home (38.5%).
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 | Danvers | Needham | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
28,098 |
32,459Highest |
5,239 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
45.3±3.1 13% above MA |
| Dover and Danvers 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% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Carlisle 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% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
87.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$125,395±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,103,900±$46k 96% above MA |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,313±$855Lowest 25% below MA |
| Needham and Danvers 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 |
$6,654Lowest 11% above 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% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
77%±21.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
93.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
38.5%±8.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Carlisle 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | — | Carlisle |
| High school in town | — | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.