Compare towns
Dover vs Middleton vs Needham vs Sherborn
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 oldest population (median age 47.5).
Middleton has the most affordable homes ($743k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Sherborn has the most people working from home (49.1%).
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 | Middleton | Needham | Sherborn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
9,816 |
32,459Highest |
4,427 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+8.8% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.8±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Dover and Middleton 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% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
29.2%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sherborn and Needham 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% |
18.1%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Middleton 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 MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
82.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$167,402±$29kLowest 61% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$742,700±$48kLowest 32% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,026,800±$72k 83% 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 | — | $1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,338±$316 33% above MA |
| Needham and Sherborn 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 |
$8,785Lowest 47% above 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% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
48%±26.3 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% MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
92.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
49.1%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sherborn 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #53 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Middleton | Needham | Sherborn |
| 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.