Compare towns
Needham vs Gardner vs Needham vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Gardner | Needham | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
21,148 |
32,459Highest |
2,308Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
| Dover and Gardner 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% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Gardner and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 106% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% 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 | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below 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% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover 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% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Gardner | Needham | — |
| High school in town | — | Gardner High | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
11.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.