Compare towns
Needham vs Acton vs Dover vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Acton has the most affordable homes ($807k median).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Acton | Dover | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
24,155 |
2,308Lowest |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
42.1±0.9Lowest 5% above MA |
| Dover and Acton 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% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Acton 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% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Newton 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% |
79.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 106% above MA |
$158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$190,304±$9k 83% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$1,264,900±$43k 125% above MA |
| 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 37% above MA |
$1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
— | $2,370±$81 35% above MA |
| 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+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest 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% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.2%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Acton 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Acton-Boxborough | — | Newton |
| High school in town | Needham High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
13.5Highest |
— | 10.8Lowest |
| 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.