Compare towns
Dover vs Newfields vs Chilmark vs Needham
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).
Newfields has the most affordable homes ($646k median).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Newfields | Chilmark | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308 |
2,023 |
1,578Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+40%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4 22% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
53.6±8.1Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest 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%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
36.2%±12.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Newfields 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. |
$197,885±$15k 145% above U.S. |
$168,750±$28kLowest 109% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149k 293% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 470% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,875±$323Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$2,750±$2kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% 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. |
$4,485Lowest 44% 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% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±11 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 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 |
| School district | — | Newfields School District | Up-Island Regional | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.