Compare towns
Dover vs Springfield vs Needham vs Bolton
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 highest household income ($250k).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($384k median).
Needham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
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 | Springfield | Needham | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930 |
1,122Lowest |
32,459Highest |
5,737 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Springfield 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Springfield 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% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.5 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. |
$100,893±$19kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$205,449±$31k 154% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$796,000±$49k 139% 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. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,583±$1k 12% 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. |
$5,946Lowest 91% 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%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Springfield 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% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bolton 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 | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | — | Needham | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | — | Needham High | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 11.9 |
12.0Highest |
| 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.