Compare towns
Dover vs Raynham vs Sutton 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).
Raynham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.1%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
Needham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Raynham | Sutton | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930Lowest |
15,505 |
9,452 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+13.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
42.9±1.5Lowest 7% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
| Dover and Sutton 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% |
20.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest 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% |
19.8%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Raynham and Sutton 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% |
39.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 140% above MA |
$124,012±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$524,400±$29k 7% below MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% 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 |
$1,749±$74 about the MA average |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% 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 |
$6,752Lowest 13% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Raynham and Needham 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% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
36 minHighest 25% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 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 | #190 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Bridgewater-Raynham | Sutton | Needham |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town | Sutton High School | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
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.