Compare towns
Needham vs Amherst vs Dover vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Amherst has the most affordable homes ($538k median).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% 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 | Amherst | Dover | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
11,861 |
2,308Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5 18% above U.S. |
47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Dover and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 165% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10k 90% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kLowest 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30kLowest 62% above U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| 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±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S. |
— | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,773 213% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,918Lowest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #20 of 120 in NH | #1 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | — | Dedham |
| High school in town | Needham High | Souhegan Coop High School | — | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.