Compare towns
Needham vs Cornish 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Dover has the most people working from home (37.4%).
Winchester has the most renters (18.3% 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 | Cornish | Dover | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
1,816Lowest |
2,308 |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
47.5±4 22% above U.S. |
42.5±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Dover 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% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest 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% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%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% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest 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. |
$91,821±$2kLowest 14% 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. |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% 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. |
$1,221±$227Lowest 14% 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. |
$5,796Lowest 86% 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% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest 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% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% 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. |
1980Highest same as 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. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest 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 | — | #1 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Cornish 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.