Compare towns
Needham vs Monroe vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Monroe has the most affordable homes ($165k 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 | Monroe | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
122Lowest |
2,308 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +8.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
60.2±9.9Highest 51% above MA |
47.5±4 19% above MA |
| Monroe 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% |
16.4%±28Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 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% |
31.1%±27.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Monroe 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% |
19.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9%±18.5 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kLowest 106% above MA |
— | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$165,000±$141kLowest 71% below 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±$183 37% above MA |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$2,053Lowest 66% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
38.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
56 minHighest 93% above MA |
37 min 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
0%±41.2Lowest 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 | — | #1 of 282 in MA |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.