Compare towns
Dover vs Ware vs Weston vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Weston has the most expensive homes ($1694k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Ware | Weston | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930Lowest |
10,048 |
11,579 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
44.9±2.1Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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 MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.3% MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 140% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117k 138% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$1,694,400±$263kHighest 201% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
| 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 66% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$2,085±$809 18% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
| 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 67% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
69%±23Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Weston and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±5.2 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #9 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Ware | Weston | Needham |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Weston High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.1 |
10.9 |
11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.