Compare towns
Needham vs Danvers vs Canton vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Danvers has the most affordable homes ($644k median).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Danvers | Canton | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
28,098 |
24,748 |
5,930Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
| Danvers and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 106% above MA |
$125,395±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
| 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 37% above MA |
$2,076±$192Lowest 18% above MA |
$2,315±$178 31% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
| 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 67% above MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | Needham High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Canton High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
12.8 |
13.1Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.