Compare towns
Dover vs Lancaster vs Plainfield 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 highest household income ($250k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Lancaster | Plainfield | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930Lowest |
8,606 |
15,141 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Dover and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 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% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Plainfield 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. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
| 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 106% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539 65% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% 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. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% 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% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Nashoba | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town | Plainfield High School | — |
| 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.