Compare towns
Needham vs Mashpee 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
Mashpee has the most affordable homes ($562k 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 | Mashpee | Needham | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
15,384 |
32,459Highest |
2,308Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
55.9±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
47.5±4 19% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±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% |
33.1%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%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% |
4.5%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$95,299±$13kLowest 8% below MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$562,200±$29kLowest about the MA average |
$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 |
$1,776±$330Lowest about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,762Lowest 37% 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% |
44.7%±14.5Lowest 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% |
5.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
81.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±3Lowest 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 | #100 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Mashpee | Needham | — |
| High school in town | — | Mashpee Middle-High School | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.