Compare towns
Needham vs Ware vs Dover vs Dedham
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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
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 | Ware | Dover | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
10,048 |
5,930Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Dover and Dedham 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Ware 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Dedham 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% 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 |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ware | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Dedham |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
9.8Lowest |
10.4 |
| 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.