Compare towns
Dover vs Gray vs Needham vs Weston
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%).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Weston has the most expensive homes ($1694k median).
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 | Gray | Needham | Weston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930Lowest |
8,429 |
32,459Highest |
11,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.9±2.1Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
26%±3.8 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% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Weston and Gray 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% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Weston and Dover 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. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117k 303% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$1,694,400±$263kHighest 409% above U.S. |
| Weston and Dover 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. |
$1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$2,085±$809 48% 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. |
$3,683Lowest 18% 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%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±23Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Weston and Gray 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% |
3.5% 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% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±5.2 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #19 of 282 in MA | #9 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Needham | Weston |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Needham High | Weston High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.5Highest |
11.9 |
10.9 |
| 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.