Compare towns
Needham vs North Hampton vs Dover vs Dedham
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%).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% 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 | North Hampton | Dover | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
4,543Lowest |
5,930 |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest 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% |
26%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Hampton and Dedham 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% |
54.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Dedham 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. |
$146,458±$29k 81% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kLowest 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61k 102% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kLowest 99% above U.S. |
| 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 70% above U.S. |
$1,805±$106Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$8,529 173% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,918Lowest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Needham 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% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #1 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | North Hampton School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Dedham |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.4Highest |
| 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.