Compare towns
Dover vs Needham vs Reading vs Wellesley
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 most homeowners (97.9%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($809k median).
Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k median).
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 | Needham | Reading | Wellesley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930Lowest |
32,459Highest |
25,612 |
30,347 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
| Dover and Reading 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±2 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% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117k 138% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,886±$360 64% above MA |
| Dover and Wellesley 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
44.1%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Wellesley 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32%±2.9 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #6 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Needham | Reading | — |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Needham High | Reading Memorial High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.9 |
12.1Highest |
— |
| 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.