Compare towns
Dover vs Dover vs Standish vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most people working from home (37.4%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Standish has the most affordable homes ($336k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Dover | Standish | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
5,930 |
10,662 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Dover 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 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Standish 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 210% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$104,593±$15kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149k 293% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$336,000±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
| Dover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #18 of 133 in ME | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | — |
| High school in town | — | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Bonny Eagle High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
12.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.