Compare towns
Needham vs Brewer 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%).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
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 | Brewer | Dover | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
9,652 |
5,930Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Dover and Dedham 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% |
20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Dover 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% |
22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brewer and Dedham 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% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer 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 165% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% 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±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% 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. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham 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% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 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 | #32 of 133 in ME | #1 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Brewer Public Schools | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Dedham |
| High school in town | Needham High | Brewer High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
14.0Highest |
9.8Lowest |
10.4 |
| 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.