Compare towns
Needham vs Reading vs Dover vs Sudbury
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%).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Sudbury has the most kids (28.5% under 18).
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 | Reading | Dover | Sudbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
699Lowest |
5,930 |
19,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
42.3±2.1Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Reading and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
28.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sudbury and Needham 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
83.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 165% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$236,250±$17k 193% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$988,900±$42k 197% 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. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,445±$895 about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$5,754Lowest 84% 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%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.8%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
33%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Sudbury 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 | #15 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Lincoln-Sudbury · Sudbury |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| 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.