Compare towns
Dover vs Sherborn vs Windsor Locks vs Needham
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).
Sherborn has the most people working from home (49.1%).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Sherborn | Windsor Locks | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930 |
4,427Lowest |
12,579 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.8±2.3 10% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
29.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sherborn and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor Locks 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
82.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Windsor Locks 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. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$1,026,800±$72k 209% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% 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. |
$2,338±$316 65% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183 70% above 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% 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% |
48%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
49.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #1 of 282 in MA | #53 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Sherborn | Windsor Locks School District | — |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.