Compare towns
Dover vs Andover vs Needham vs Wellesley
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 most homeowners (97.9%).
Andover has the most affordable homes ($383k median).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k median).
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 | Andover | Needham | Wellesley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930 |
616Lowest |
32,459Highest |
30,347 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
37.1±2.2Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Andover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±2 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+ | 16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Andover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
89%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
18.3%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117k 303% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 376% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,389±$364Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$2,886±$360 104% above U.S. |
| Dover and Wellesley 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. |
$5,190Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
32%±2.9 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #6 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | — | Needham | — |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | — | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.