Compare towns
Dover vs Dalton 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%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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 | Dalton | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,930Lowest |
6,256 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Dalton 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Lowest 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%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% 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 |
$872±$70Lowest 51% 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 |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Dalton 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% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Central Berkshire | Needham |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Wahconah Regional High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
10.9 |
11.9Highest |
| 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.