Compare towns
Dover vs Glocester vs Pascoag 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).
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Pascoag has the most renters (27.2% rent).
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 | Glocester | Pascoag | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
10,221 |
4,410 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4 22% above U.S. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
39.1±3.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Glocester 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% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±6.9Lowest 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%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Glocester and Pascoag 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% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$113,508±$7kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$121,369±$34k 50% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$396,500±$28k 19% above U.S. |
$365,000±$47kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$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 | — | $1,417±$627 about the U.S. average |
$1,319±$444Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,248 68% above U.S. |
$4,395Lowest 41% 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% |
64.5%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±27.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Glocester 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.4%±4.7Lowest 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 | #12 of 38 in RI | — | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | — | — |
| High school in town | — | Ponaganset High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.