Compare towns
Needham vs Campton vs Dover vs Winchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Campton has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Winchester has the most renters (18.3% rent).
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 | Needham | Campton | Dover | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
3,407Lowest |
5,930 |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
49.2±3.7Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
42.5±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Campton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Winchester and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±10.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Campton and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$118,870±$21kLowest 47% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$230,198±$21k 185% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$356,300±$38kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$1,215,200±$39k 265% above U.S. |
| Dover and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
— | $2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$2,279±$481Lowest 61% 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. |
$6,028Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.6%±44.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Campton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.8%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Winchester 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 | #68 of 120 in NH | #1 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Campton School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Winchester |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.