Compare towns
Dover vs Needham vs Rowe
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).
Needham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Rowe has the most affordable homes ($275k 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 | Rowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,930 |
32,459Highest |
453Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
48.9±6.4Highest 22% above MA |
| Rowe and Dover 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% |
23%±5Lowest 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% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
26.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2Lowest 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 |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$69,583±$13kLowest 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$275,000±$41kLowest 51% below 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 |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,313±$576Lowest 25% below 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Dover 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% |
15.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest 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 | Rowe |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.