Compare towns
Dover vs Thompson vs Needham vs Weston
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 homeowners (97.9%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Weston has the most expensive homes ($1694k 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 | Thompson | Needham | Weston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930Lowest |
9,337 |
32,459Highest |
11,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.9±2.1 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
26%±3.8 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%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Weston 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Weston 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. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117k 303% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$1,694,400±$263kHighest 409% above U.S. |
| Weston 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. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$2,085±$809 48% 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% 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% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±23Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Weston 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% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Needham 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA | #9 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Thompson School District | Needham | Weston |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Needham High | Weston High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
7.9Lowest |
11.9Highest |
10.9 |
| 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.