Compare towns
Needham vs Putnam vs Dover vs Newton
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 the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Newton has the youngest population (median age 42.1).
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 | Putnam | Dover | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
9,292 |
5,930Lowest |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.1±0.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Dover and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±1 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% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newton and Putnam 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$190,304±$9k 136% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$1,264,900±$43k 280% above U.S. |
| Dover and Newton 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. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$2,370±$81 68% 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. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±4.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Newton 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.2%±2 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #1 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Putnam School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Newton |
| High school in town | — | Putnam High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
9.8 |
10.8Highest |
| 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.