Compare towns
Dover vs Middlefield vs Peru 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).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k 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 | Middlefield | Peru | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930 |
352Lowest |
630 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Middlefield and Peru 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% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5 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%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Peru and Middlefield 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% |
31.8% MA: 47.3% |
28%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Needham 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 |
$103,750±$23k about the MA average |
$90,750±$18kLowest 13% below MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below 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 |
$2,625±$1k 49% above MA |
— | $2,409±$183Lowest 37% above MA |
| Dover and Middlefield 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 |
$4,926 18% below MA |
$3,805Lowest 36% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield 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 MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9% MA: 62.5% |
94.1% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest 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 |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | — | — | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | — | — | Needham |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | — | — | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | — | 11.9Highest |
| 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.