Compare towns
Needham vs Wareham vs Dover vs Lexington
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%).
Wareham has the most affordable homes ($425k median).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Lexington has the most renters (19.5% 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 | Wareham | Dover | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
23,302 |
2,308Lowest |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+9.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
47.5±4 19% above MA |
47.3±0.8 18% above MA |
| Wareham 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 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
25.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Lexington 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% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham and Lexington 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% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4% MA: 47.3% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Wareham 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 |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$238,444±$18k 129% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$1,203,100±$35k 114% above MA |
| Dover and Lexington 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 |
$1,504±$180Lowest 15% below MA |
— | $2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
6.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Lexington 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Wareham | — | Lexington |
| High school in town | — | Wareham Senior High | — | Lexington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| 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.