Compare towns
Dover vs Needham vs Westfield
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%).
Westfield has the most affordable homes ($325k 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 | Westfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,930Lowest |
32,459 |
40,378Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
39.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.1%±2Lowest 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% |
18.7%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Westfield 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% |
33.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Westfield 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 |
$87,753±$6kLowest 16% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$325,100±$11kLowest 42% below 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 |
$1,117±$60Lowest 37% 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+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,746Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Westfield 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% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
8.6%±2.2Lowest 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 | #197 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Needham | Westfield |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Needham High | Westfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.9Highest |
11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.