Compare towns
Dover vs Plainfield vs Needham 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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Plainfield | Needham | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930 |
1,314Lowest |
32,459Highest |
5,239 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.3±3.1 16% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Carlisle 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest 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% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Carlisle and Plainfield 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% |
48.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.9 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. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% 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. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above 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. |
$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
73.2%±53.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
77%±21.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Carlisle and Plainfield 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% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 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 | Carlisle |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | — | Needham High | 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.