Compare towns
Dover vs Smithfield 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).
Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($446k 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 | Smithfield | Needham | Chilmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308 |
22,233 |
32,459Highest |
1,578Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%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. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
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% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest 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% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.2%±12.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% 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. |
$446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 470% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below 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. |
$5,207 67% 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% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Smithfield 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% |
6.2%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% |
81.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 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. |
25 minLowest 7% 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% |
14%±3.1Lowest 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Smithfield | — | Up-Island Regional |
| High school in town | — | Smithfield High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8 |
— | — |
| 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.