Compare towns
Dover vs Needham vs Stoddard vs Weston
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 people working from home (34.2%).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Stoddard has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Weston has the most expensive homes ($1694k 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 | Stoddard | Weston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930 |
32,459Highest |
1,072Lowest |
11,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
44.9±2.1 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±3.8 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%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stoddard and Weston 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% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Weston 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. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$94,904±$11kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117k 303% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,694,400±$263kHighest 409% above U.S. |
| Weston 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. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$2,085±$809 48% 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,316Lowest 38% 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% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±23Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Weston 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #9 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Needham | Stoddard School District | Weston |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Needham High | None in town | Weston High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— | 10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
We could not complete that request.
Please try again shortly.