Compare towns
Needham vs Bartlett vs Dover vs Winchester
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 the shortest commute (28 min average).
Bartlett has the most affordable homes ($371k median).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Winchester has the youngest population (median age 42.5).
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 | Bartlett | Dover | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
3,281Lowest |
5,930 |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
57.4±4.7Highest 48% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
42.5±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
7.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.1%±0.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 165% above U.S. |
$59,754±$9kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$230,198±$21k 185% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$371,400±$78kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$1,215,200±$39k 265% above U.S. |
| 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±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,676±$97Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$2,279±$481 61% above U.S. |
| Dover and Needham 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 221% above U.S. |
$2,512Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.5%±37.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bartlett and Needham 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% |
10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.8%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #74 of 120 in NH | #1 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Bartlett School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Winchester |
| High school in town | Needham High | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | 9.8Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.