Compare towns
Needham vs Westhampton vs Dover vs Winchester
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%).
Westhampton has the most affordable homes ($413k median).
Dover has the most people working from home (37.4%).
Winchester has the most renters (18.3% 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 | Westhampton | Dover | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
1,552Lowest |
2,308 |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
49.3±4.9Highest 23% above MA |
47.5±4 19% above MA |
42.5±1.9Lowest 6% above MA |
| Westhampton 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 MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Winchester 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 MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
47%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 106% above MA |
$100,000±$7kLowest 4% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$230,198±$21k 121% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$413,200±$24kLowest 26% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$1,215,200±$39k 116% above MA |
| Dover and Winchester 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 |
$1,304±$229Lowest 26% below MA |
— | $2,279±$481 29% above MA |
| Needham and Winchester 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 |
$6,476Lowest 8% above 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% |
33.3%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3 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% |
6.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
91.4% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Winchester 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 | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hampshire · Westhampton | — | Winchester |
| High school in town | — | Hampshire Regional High | — | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| 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.