Compare towns
Dover vs Pepperell vs Townsend vs Needham
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 highest household income ($250k).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Pepperell | Townsend | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930Lowest |
11,663 |
9,100 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6 8% 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%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest 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% |
18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell 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% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Pepperell 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 |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% 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 |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$2,409±$183 37% 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 |
$6,698 12% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Townsend 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% |
8% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | North Middlesex | North Middlesex | Needham |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
11.9 |
| 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.