Compare towns
Needham vs Gray vs Dover vs Newton
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%).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Newton has the most renters (30% 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 | Gray | Dover | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
8,429 |
2,308Lowest |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
42.1±0.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Dover and Gray 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% |
19%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±1 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gray and Newton 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% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newton and Dover 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. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$190,304±$9k 136% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$1,264,900±$43k 280% above U.S. |
| Dover and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $2,370±$81 68% above U.S. |
| Needham and Newton 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. |
$3,683Lowest 18% 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% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Gray 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% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.2%±2 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #1 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | — | Newton |
| High school in town | — | Gray-New Gloucester High School | — | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5Highest |
— | 10.8Lowest |
| 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.