Compare towns
Dover vs Reading vs Needham vs Dover
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 expensive homes ($1340k median).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($809k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Dover has the most people working from home (37.4%).
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 | Reading | Needham | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930 |
25,612 |
32,459Highest |
2,308Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
| Dover and Dover 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% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
83.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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 |
$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149k 133% above MA |
| Dover and Dover 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 |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above 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 |
$9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Reading | Needham | — |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Reading Memorial High | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.1Highest |
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.