Compare towns
Needham vs Worcester 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
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k median).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Winchester has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
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 | Worcester | Dover | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
207,055Highest |
2,308Lowest |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
42.5±1.9 6% 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%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
18%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Winchester and Needham 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% |
35.2%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% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$230,198±$21k 121% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% 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 |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% 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 |
$4,733Lowest 21% 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% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | — | Winchester |
| High school in town | — | South High Community | — | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Lowest |
— | 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.