Compare towns
Dover vs Johnston vs Dover 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 expensive homes ($1340k median).
Johnston has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
Dover has the most people working from home (37.4%).
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 | Johnston | Dover | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930 |
29,835 |
2,308Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Dover 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% |
17.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.8 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%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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. |
$91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149k 293% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
| Dover 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. |
$1,275±$132Lowest 10% 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. |
$4,614Lowest 48% 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% |
38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Dover 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 | #32 of 38 in RI | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Johnston | — | — |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Johnston Senior High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— | — |
| 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.