Compare towns
Needham vs Union 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).
Union has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Newton has the most renters (30% 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 | Union | Dover | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
944Lowest |
2,308 |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
47.5±4 22% above U.S. |
42.1±0.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Union 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.8 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newton 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 165% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above 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. |
$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% 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±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
— | — | $2,370±$81Lowest 68% above U.S. |
| Needham and Newton 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. |
$4,793Lowest 54% 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% |
90%±64.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Union 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% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest 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 | — | #1 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Union School District | — | Newton |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.8 |
| 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.