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 shortest commute (28 min average).
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 |
5,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
60.2±9.9Highest 51% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±28Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 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% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest 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% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9%±18.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Monroe 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±$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 |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% 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±$183Lowest 37% above MA |
— | $2,917±$2kHighest 66% 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 |
$2,053Lowest 66% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Dover 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% |
2.7%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 |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
56 minHighest 93% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
0%±41.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest 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 |
| School district | — | — | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | — | — | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| 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.