Compare towns
Needham vs Hanover vs Dover vs Winchester
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%).
Hanover has the most affordable homes ($755k median).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Hanover | Dover | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
14,845 |
5,930Lowest |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
42.5±1.9 6% above MA |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
18%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Winchester 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% |
56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3 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 |
$189,803±$23kLowest 83% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$230,198±$21k 121% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$755,400±$39kLowest 34% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$1,215,200±$39k 116% above MA |
| 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 37% above MA |
$1,845±$341Lowest 5% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,279±$481 29% above MA |
| 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 67% above MA |
$9,342Lowest 56% 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% |
65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanover 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% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
84.5% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #69 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Winchester |
| High school in town | — | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
9.8Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.