Compare towns
Dover vs Hampton Falls vs North Hampton 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).
North Hampton has the most affordable homes ($670k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Hampton Falls | North Hampton | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930 |
2,328Lowest |
4,543 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Hampton Falls 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% |
19.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4 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% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Hampton and Hampton Falls 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% |
54.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 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. |
$166,157±$14k 106% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kLowest 81% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76k 132% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61kLowest 102% 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. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$1,805±$106Lowest 28% 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,529Lowest 173% 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% |
27.2%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Hampton Falls 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%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% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9 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 | — | #12 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Hampton Falls School District | North Hampton School District | — |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — | — |
| 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.