Compare towns
Dover vs Ayer 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%).
Ayer has the most affordable homes ($464k median).
Needham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Ayer | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,930Lowest |
8,645 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest 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 | 26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest 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+ | 16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% 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 | $2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
| Dover 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 |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Ayer Shirley School District | Needham |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.5 |
11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.