Compare towns
Dover vs Needham vs Sudbury
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 expensive homes ($1340k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Sudbury has the most affordable homes ($989k 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 | Sudbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,930Lowest |
32,459Highest |
19,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.3±2.1Lowest 6% above MA |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sudbury and Needham 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%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Dover 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% |
81.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.6Lowest 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±$13kLowest 106% above MA |
$236,250±$17k 127% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$988,900±$42kLowest 76% 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 |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,445±$895Lowest 18% 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+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.8%±12.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Sudbury 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Sudbury 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 | #15 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Needham | Lincoln-Sudbury · Sudbury |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Needham High | Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.9Highest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.