Compare towns
Dover vs Gorham 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).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($461k median).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Gorham | Needham | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930 |
18,300 |
32,459Highest |
5,737Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.2±1.7 6% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Lowest 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% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham and Gorham 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% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kLowest 39% 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. |
$460,900±$26kLowest 39% 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. |
$1,680±$355 19% 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. |
$4,825Lowest 55% 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% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #19 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Gorham Public Schools | Needham | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Gorham High School | Needham High | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.9Highest |
11.9 |
12.0 |
| 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.