Compare towns
Dover vs Hardwick 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).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k 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 | Hardwick | Needham | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
2,684 |
32,459Highest |
5,239 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%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±9.8 13% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
45.3±3.1 13% above MA |
| Dover and Hardwick 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% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest 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% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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% |
30.9%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% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Hardwick 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 |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below 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 | — | $1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,313±$855 25% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% 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% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest 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% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
93.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Quabbin | Needham | Carlisle |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.