Compare towns
Dover vs Needham vs Washington vs Wellesley
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%).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($371k median).
Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k 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 | Washington | Wellesley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930 |
32,459Highest |
526Lowest |
30,347 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±2 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%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.8% MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$95,278±$12kLowest 8% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117k 138% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$370,700±$32kLowest 34% below MA |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,409±$183Lowest 37% above MA |
— | $2,886±$360 64% above MA |
| Dover and Wellesley 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 |
$4,381Lowest 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.1%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Wellesley 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5% MA: 62.5% |
84.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
27 min 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32%±2.9 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 | — | #6 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Needham | — | — |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Needham High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— | — |
| 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.