Compare towns
Dover vs Needham vs Warner vs Carlisle
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 expensive homes ($1340k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Warner has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Carlisle has the most people working from home (38.5%).
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 | Warner | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930 |
32,459Highest |
2,959Lowest |
5,239 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.7±4 12% above U.S. |
45.3±3.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Carlisle 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Carlisle 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% |
20.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Carlisle and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 210% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$94,022±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$353,100±$22kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$1,103,900±$46k 232% above U.S. |
| 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 106% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,219±$123Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,313±$855 7% below 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. |
$7,650Lowest 145% 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% |
48.7%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
77%±21.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Carlisle and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
38.5%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Carlisle and Dover 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 | — | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Needham | Kearsarge Regional School District | Carlisle |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Needham High | None in town | 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.