Compare towns
Needham vs Erving vs Dover vs Sudbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Dover has the most people working from home (37.4%).
Sudbury has the most kids (28.5% under 18).
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 | Erving | Dover | Sudbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
1,703Lowest |
2,308 |
19,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
42.3±2.1Lowest 6% above MA |
| Dover and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sudbury 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 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
83.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.6 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 |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$236,250±$17k 127% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$988,900±$42k 76% 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±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,163±$213Lowest 34% below MA |
— | $1,445±$895 18% below MA |
| Needham and Sudbury 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 |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.8%±12.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
33%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Sudbury 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 | #15 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Erving | — | Lincoln-Sudbury · Sudbury |
| High school in town | Needham High | None in town | — | Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | — | 11.3Lowest |
| 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.