Compare towns
Dover vs Needham vs Plainfield vs Dover
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 people working from home (37.4%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k 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 | Plainfield | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
32,459Highest |
2,522 |
5,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
| Dover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 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% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Needham 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% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%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% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Dover 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. |
$122,656±$13kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149k 293% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
| Dover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| Dover 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. |
$7,904Lowest 153% 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% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | Plainfield School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| 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.