Compare towns
Dover vs Needham vs Walpole vs Weston
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%).
Walpole has the most affordable homes ($687k 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 | Walpole | Weston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930Lowest |
32,459Highest |
26,388 |
11,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
44.9±2.1Highest 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±3.8 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% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Weston 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 MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$171,500±$16kLowest 65% 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 |
$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
$1,694,400±$263kHighest 201% above MA |
| 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 66% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,205±$222 25% above MA |
$2,085±$809Lowest 18% above 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 |
$8,523Lowest 42% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
69%±23Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
87.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±5.2 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #9 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Needham | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Weston |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Needham High | Walpole High | Weston High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.9Highest |
11.3 |
10.9 |
| 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.