Compare towns
Dover vs Needham vs Chilmark vs Carlisle
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%).
Needham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Carlisle has the most affordable homes ($1104k median).
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 | Chilmark | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308 |
32,459Highest |
1,578Lowest |
5,239 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4 19% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
45.3±3.1 13% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.8 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4% MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
87.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.9 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 |
$168,750±$28kLowest 62% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149k 133% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$1,103,900±$46kLowest 96% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,313±$855Lowest 25% below MA |
| Chilmark and Needham 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 |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
77%±21.4 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
4.1%Highest MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
93.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Lowest MA: 18.6% |
38.5%±8.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | — | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | Up-Island Regional | Carlisle |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | None in town | 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.