Compare towns
Dover vs Hardwick vs Needham vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Hardwick | Needham | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930 |
2,684Lowest |
32,459Highest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
| Hardwick and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Ware 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 MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| 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 66% above MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| 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 67% above MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Quabbin | Needham | Ware |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town | Needham High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.