Compare towns
Dover vs Windsor Locks vs Chilmark 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).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Chilmark has the most expensive homes ($1895k median).
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 | Windsor Locks | Chilmark | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308 |
12,579 |
1,578Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +40%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4 22% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
53.6±8.1Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% 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% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.2%±12.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Windsor Locks 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. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$168,750±$28k 109% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149k 293% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 470% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,750±$2kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,485 44% 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% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±11 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | — | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Windsor Locks School District | Up-Island Regional | — |
| High school in town | — | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
— | — |
| 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.