Compare towns
Dover vs Exeter vs Hampstead 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 most homeowners (97.9%).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
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 | Hampstead | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930Lowest |
16,151 |
9,102 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest 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. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Hampstead 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% |
21.3%±3.7 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%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Hampstead 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% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Lowest 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% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest 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. |
$112,348±$18k 39% 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. |
$521,100±$45k 57% 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. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below 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. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$8,634Lowest 177% 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% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 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% |
3.8% 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% |
82.1% 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 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampstead School District | — |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Exeter High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— | — |
| 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.