Compare towns
Dover vs Epping vs Needham vs Bolton
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).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Needham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
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 | Epping | Needham | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930 |
7,430 |
32,459Highest |
5,737Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.9 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 210% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$205,449±$31k 154% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$796,000±$49k 139% above U.S. |
| 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 106% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,583±$1kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$6,936Lowest 122% 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%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bolton and Dover 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Epping School District | — | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Epping High School | — | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
9.3Lowest |
— | 12.0Highest |
| 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.