Compare towns
Dover vs Monkton vs Needham vs Dover
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).
Monkton has the most affordable homes ($380k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Dover has the most people working from home (37.4%).
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 | Monkton | Needham | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930 |
1,999Lowest |
32,459Highest |
2,308 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
47.1±5.4 21% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Dover and Monkton 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.8 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% |
20.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Monkton 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest 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. |
$119,688±$28kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$379,900±$18kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149k 293% 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. |
$1,301±$120Lowest 8% 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. |
$5,887Lowest 89% 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% |
62.1%±64 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Monkton 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% |
4.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Needham | — |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town | 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 |
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.