Compare towns
Dover vs Exeter vs Bolton vs Needham
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).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Bolton | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930 |
16,151 |
5,737Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%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% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$205,449±$31k 154% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$796,000±$49k 139% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% 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. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,583±$1kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% 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. |
$8,814Lowest 183% 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% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #28 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Nashoba | Needham |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Exeter High School | Nashoba Regional | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.1Highest |
12.0 |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.