Compare towns
Dover vs Needham vs Salem
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($543k 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 | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
32,459 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| 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%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Salem 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% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Salem 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 |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below 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 |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest 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 | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | Salem |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.