Compare towns
Needham vs Springfield vs Worcester 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 most kids (27.5% under 18).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Springfield | Worcester | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
154,749 |
207,055Highest |
2,308Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
| Dover and Needham 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% |
24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Dover 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% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Worcester 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±$13k 106% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% 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±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Springfield | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | — |
| High school in town | — | Springfield Central High | South High Community | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Lowest |
14.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.