Compare towns
Dover vs Northfield vs Needham
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).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Northfield | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
2,872 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% MA: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4 19% above MA |
48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Northfield 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 MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest 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% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 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 |
$103,375±$10kLowest about the MA average |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% 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 | — | $1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,594Lowest 23% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 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% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 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 | #231 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Pioneer Valley | Needham |
| High school in town | — | Pioneer Valley Regional | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| 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.