Compare towns
Dummerston vs Moretown 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
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Moretown has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Dummerston | Moretown | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,090 |
1,532Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
46.8±3.8Highest 20% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Moretown and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Moretown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$104,423±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$380,800±$36k 14% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$838±$462Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,506 77% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.1%±14.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Dummerston 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 | — | — | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Needham |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.