Compare towns
Dover vs Windsor vs Needham vs Chilmark
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 highest household income ($250k).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($390k 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 | Windsor | Needham | Chilmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308 |
1,065Lowest |
32,459Highest |
1,578 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4 19% above MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
68.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest 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 |
$115,563±$10kLowest 11% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149k 133% above MA |
$389,700±$32kLowest 31% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $2,409±$183Lowest 37% above MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
| 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 67% above MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,485 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9 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% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
4.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
96.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 26% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | — | — | Up-Island Regional |
| High school in town | — | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.