Compare towns
Dover vs Needham vs Ossipee vs Chilmark
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 highest household income ($250k).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
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 | Ossipee | Chilmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308 |
32,459Highest |
4,521 |
1,578Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+40%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4 22% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
53.6±8.1Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Chilmark and Ossipee 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% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Dover 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% |
26.3%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.2%±12.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chilmark and Ossipee 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% 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% |
2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 210% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$90,521±$22kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$168,750±$28k 109% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149k 293% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$325,500±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 470% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,601±$245Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$2,750±$2kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$4,485 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 min 27% above U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±11 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Needham | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Up-Island Regional |
| 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 |
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.