Compare towns
Dover vs Putnam vs Thompson 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).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Putnam | Thompson | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
9,292 |
9,337 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4 22% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Putnam 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% 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 | — | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% 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% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Putnam School District | Thompson School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Putnam High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.