Compare towns
Needham vs Peabody 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Peabody has the most affordable homes ($596k 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 | Peabody | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459 |
54,695Highest |
5,930Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
| Peabody 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% |
18.7%±1.8Lowest 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% |
24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest 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 |
$96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$596,200±$12kLowest 6% above 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±$183 37% above MA |
$1,950±$99Lowest 11% 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 |
$5,065Lowest 15% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody 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% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest 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 | #228 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Peabody | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | — | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.