Compare towns
Dover vs Thomaston vs Dover 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).
Thomaston has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Dover has the most people working from home (37.4%).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Thomaston | Dover | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930 |
7,492 |
2,308Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest 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% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thomaston 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% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 210% above U.S. |
$103,218±$15kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$282,600±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149k 293% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
| 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 106% above U.S. |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
— | $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. |
$5,915Lowest 90% 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% |
57.9%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Thomaston School District | — | Needham |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Thomaston High School | — | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
10.7 |
— | 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.