Compare towns
Dover vs Townsend 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 most homeowners (97.9%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Townsend | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
9,100 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Townsend 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 MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest 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 |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% 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 | — | $1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 26% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | North Middlesex | Needham |
| High school in town | — | North Middlesex Regional | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
11.9Lowest |
| 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.