Compare towns
Dover vs Lancaster vs Mendon vs Needham
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 highest household income ($250k).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k 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 | Lancaster | Mendon | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930Lowest |
8,606 |
6,325 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Dover and Mendon 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest 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%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Mendon 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 |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$132,256±$33kLowest 27% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above 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 |
$2,338±$539 33% above MA |
$1,840±$196Lowest 4% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above 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 |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$7,213Lowest 20% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Nashoba | Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — | — |
| 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.