Compare towns
Needham vs Exeter vs Lowell vs Dover
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
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 | Exeter | Lowell | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
16,151 |
118,368Highest |
2,308Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Dover and Exeter 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% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4%Highest 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% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lowell and Dover 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±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% 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±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,625±$40Lowest 15% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% 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% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Exeter 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% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lowell | — |
| High school in town | Needham High | Exeter High School | Lowell High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
12.1 |
14.8Highest |
— |
| 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.