Compare towns
Everett vs Needham vs Dover vs Boston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Boston has the youngest population (median age 33.3).
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 | Everett | Needham | Dover | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
32,459 |
2,308Lowest |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$97,344±$2k 6% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$731,700±$10k 30% above MA |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Lowest 18% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
— | $2,147±$25 22% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 19% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1947 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Needham | — | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Everett High | Needham High | — | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.9Lowest |
— | 18.7Highest |
| 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.