Compare towns
Needham vs Corinth vs Dover 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
Corinth has the most affordable homes ($214k median).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
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 | Corinth | Dover | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
1,539Lowest |
5,930 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.4±9.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Corinth and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$89,167±$29kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$213,800±$34kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
| Dover and Needham 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. |
$1,267±$510Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above 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. |
$3,584Lowest 15% 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%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.9%±29.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | — | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Needham |
| High school in town | — | — | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| 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.