Compare towns
Dover vs Dummer vs Windsor 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 highest household income ($250k).
Dummer has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Windsor has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
Needham has the most renters (16.9% rent).
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 | Dummer | Windsor | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308 |
299 |
254Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4 22% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
40.2±18.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Dummer 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% |
19.4%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.2%±14.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummer and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
12.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 210% above U.S. |
$91,250±$21kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$103,750±$40k 29% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$242,200±$51kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$337,500±$40k about the U.S. average |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | — | $2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,898Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$3,381 8% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±16.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — | #19 of 282 in MA |
| 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.