Compare towns
Dover vs Needham vs Bolton
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).
Needham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
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 | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
32,459Highest |
5,737 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
| Dover and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Bolton 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% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Bolton 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% |
81.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$205,449±$31kLowest 98% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$796,000±$49kLowest 42% 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 | — | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA |
| Needham and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest 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% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 26% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Bolton 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 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | Nashoba |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.