Compare towns
Needham vs Dunstable vs Dover vs Lexington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Dunstable has the most affordable homes ($674k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Lexington has the most people working from home (36.7%).
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 | Dunstable | Dover | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
3,408Lowest |
5,930 |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
47.3±0.8Highest 18% above MA |
| Lexington 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 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
25.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
84.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Dunstable 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 106% above MA |
$208,512±$23kLowest 101% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$238,444±$18k 129% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$674,000±$30kLowest 20% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$1,203,100±$35k 114% above MA |
| Dover and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,325±$637Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,891±$233 64% above MA |
| Dover and Lexington 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 67% above MA |
$9,020Lowest 51% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
96.5% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lexington and Dover 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Groton-Dunstable | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Lexington |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Lexington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.