Compare towns
Dover vs Needham vs North Reading
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
North Reading has the most affordable homes ($711k 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 | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
32,459Highest |
15,765 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
43±2.8Lowest 8% 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% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and North Reading 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% MA: 47.3% |
56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$710,500±$24kLowest 26% 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 |
$2,259±$356Lowest 28% above MA |
| Needham and North 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,693Lowest 62% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and North Reading 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Lowest 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | North Reading |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | North Reading High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
10.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.