Compare towns
Dover vs Strafford vs Needham vs Sherborn
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).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Sherborn has the most people working from home (49.1%).
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 | Strafford | Needham | Sherborn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930 |
4,306Lowest |
32,459Highest |
4,427 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.8±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
29.2%±4.8Highest 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% |
19.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
40.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
82.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Strafford 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. |
$122,105±$22kLowest 51% above 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. |
$427,900±$29kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$1,026,800±$72k 209% 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. |
$1,635±$246Lowest 16% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$2,338±$316 65% 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. |
$6,086Lowest 95% 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% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
49.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #1 of 282 in MA | #73 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #53 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Strafford School District | Needham | Sherborn |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town | 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.