Compare towns
Dover vs Lexington vs Needham vs Chilmark
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 homeowners (97.9%).
Lexington has the most renters (19.5% rent).
Needham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
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 | Lexington | Needham | Chilmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308 |
34,295Highest |
32,459 |
1,578Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4 19% above MA |
47.3±0.8 18% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
| Chilmark 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 MA: 19.4% |
25.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Lexington 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% |
21.7%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4% MA: 47.3% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest 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 |
$238,444±$18k 129% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$168,750±$28kLowest 62% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149k 133% above MA |
$1,203,100±$35k 114% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
$2,409±$183Lowest 37% above MA |
$2,750±$2k 56% above MA |
| Lexington and Chilmark 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Lexington 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 | #2 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Lexington | — | Up-Island Regional |
| High school in town | — | Lexington High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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