Compare towns
Dover vs Hampton vs Meredith 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%).
Hampton has the most renters (26.2% rent).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k 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 | Meredith | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930Lowest |
16,426 |
6,758 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Meredith 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% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 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% |
30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Hampton 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% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest 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. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% 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. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% 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. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% 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% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Needham |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Winnacunnet High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
10.1 |
11.1 |
11.9Highest |
| 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.