Compare towns
Dover vs Pelham vs Needham vs Sherborn
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 oldest population (median age 47.5).
Pelham has the most affordable homes ($553k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Sherborn has the most people working from home (49.1%).
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 | Pelham | Needham | Sherborn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
14,449 |
32,459Highest |
4,427 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.8±2.3 10% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
29.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sherborn and Needham 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% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham and Pelham 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% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
82.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Pelham 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. |
$135,956±$19kLowest 68% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kLowest 66% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$1,026,800±$72k 209% above U.S. |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,338±$316 65% above U.S. |
| Needham and Sherborn 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. |
$8,634Lowest 177% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Pelham 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
49.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sherborn 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #53 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Pelham School District | Needham | Sherborn |
| High school in town | — | Pelham High School | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.