Compare towns
Dover vs Hudson vs Needham vs Wellesley
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%).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($439k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k 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 | Hudson | Needham | Wellesley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930Lowest |
25,557 |
32,459Highest |
30,347 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
37.1±2.2Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Hudson 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±2 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% |
20.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hudson and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
89%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
18.3%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$124,213±$6kLowest 54% 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. |
$438,900±$11kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 376% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,735±$123Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$2,886±$360 104% above U.S. |
| Dover and Wellesley 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. |
$6,636Lowest 113% 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% |
34.3%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Wellesley 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% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.4% 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. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
32%±2.9 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 | #63 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #6 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Hudson School District | Needham | Wellesley |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Alvirne High School | Needham High | Wellesley Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.6 |
11.9Highest |
10.8 |
| 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.