Compare towns
Mount Tabor vs Needham vs Peru vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Peru has the most renters (21% rent).
Dorset has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Mount Tabor | Needham | Peru | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 304Lowest |
32,459Highest |
434 |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.8±10.6Highest 49% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.3±8.6 16% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
| Mount Tabor and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 42.4%±18.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mount Tabor and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | — | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$151,875±$83k 88% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Needham and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,500±$76k 26% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$400,000±$105kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,143±$367 52% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,271±$820Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
| Needham and Mount Tabor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,233 68% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
29%±47.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 46 minHighest 72% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.4%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±16.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Dorset 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 | — | Needham | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 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.