Compare towns
Needham vs Brooklyn 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
Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k 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 | Brooklyn | Dover | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
8,517 |
2,308Lowest |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
42.5±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Dover and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.8 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% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$96,207±$15kLowest 19% above 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. |
$315,200±$28kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% 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±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
— | $2,279±$481 61% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$4,538Lowest 45% above 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% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%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. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest 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 | #113 of 149 in CT | #1 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Brooklyn School District | — | Winchester |
| High school in town | Needham High | None in town | — | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
— | — | 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.