Compare towns
Dover vs Weston vs Woonsocket 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 homeowners (97.9%).
Weston has the most expensive homes ($1694k median).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k 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 | Weston | Woonsocket | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930Lowest |
11,579 |
43,521Highest |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.9±2.1Highest 15% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
26%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Lowest 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% |
20%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Weston 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% |
84.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 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. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117k 303% above U.S. |
$1,694,400±$263kHighest 409% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% 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. |
$2,085±$809 48% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% 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% |
69%±23Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 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% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 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 | #9 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Weston | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Needham |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Weston High | Woonsocket High School | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
10.9 |
15.2Highest |
11.9 |
| 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.