Compare towns
Dover vs Killingly vs Lexington 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%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Lexington has the most people working from home (36.7%).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Killingly | Lexington | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930Lowest |
17,867 |
34,295Highest |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.3±0.8Highest 22% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Lexington 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% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.5%±1.8 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%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lexington and Killingly 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% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Killingly 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. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$238,444±$18k 195% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,203,100±$35k 262% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
| Dover and Lexington 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. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,891±$233 105% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
| Dover and Lexington 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. |
$3,922Lowest 26% 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% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Lexington 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% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% 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. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.7%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lexington 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #2 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Lexington | Needham |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Killingly High School | Lexington High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.1 |
11.4 |
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.