Compare towns
Needham vs Exeter 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 the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k 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 | Exeter | Dover | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
16,151 |
5,930Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above 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. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above 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. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above 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. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,918Lowest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Dedham 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%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. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970 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. |
25 minLowest 6% 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% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #1 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Dedham |
| High school in town | Needham High | Exeter High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
12.1Highest |
9.8Lowest |
10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.