Compare towns
Dover vs Milton vs Reading vs Needham
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 highest household income ($250k).
Milton has the youngest population (median age 41.1).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($809k median).
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 | Milton | Reading | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
28,587 |
25,612 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
| Dover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Milton 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% |
16.1%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
71.9% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Milton and Dover 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 |
$188,529±$15k 81% above MA |
$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$933,200±$31k 66% above MA |
$809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% 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 | — | $1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Needham and Reading 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 |
$9,677 61% above MA |
$9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 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% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #55 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Milton | Reading | Needham |
| High school in town | — | Milton High | Reading Memorial High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4Highest |
12.1 |
11.9Lowest |
| 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.