Compare towns
Dover vs Plainfield vs Needham vs Chilmark
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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
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 | Plainfield | Needham | Chilmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308 |
2,522 |
32,459Highest |
1,578Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+40%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4 22% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
53.6±8.1Highest 38% 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% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.2%±12.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chilmark and Plainfield 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% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 210% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$168,750±$28k 109% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149k 293% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 470% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,674±$181Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$2,750±$2kHighest 95% 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. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,485Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±11 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 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Needham | Up-Island Regional |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.