Compare towns
Dover vs Needham vs Warwick vs Carlisle
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 most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Warwick has the most affordable homes ($355k median).
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 | Needham | Warwick | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
32,459 |
83,175Highest |
5,239 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.3±1 14% above U.S. |
45.3±3.1 16% above U.S. |
| Dover and Carlisle 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±1.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Carlisle and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Warwick 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. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$88,708±$6kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$354,600±$5kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$1,103,900±$46k 232% 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 | — | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,363±$76 4% below U.S. |
$1,313±$855Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,616Lowest 48% 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% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77%±21.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
38.5%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #28 of 38 in RI | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Warwick | Carlisle |
| High school in town | — | — | Pilgrim High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.5 |
— |
| 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.