Compare towns
Needham vs Harvard vs Upton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
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 | Harvard | Upton | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
6,927 |
8,189 |
2,308Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
| Dover and Upton 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% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Upton 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% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Needham 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% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest 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 |
$213,996±$24k 106% above MA |
$155,508±$33kLowest 50% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$833,600±$54k 48% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% 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 |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376Lowest 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Harvard and Dover 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 | #12 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Harvard | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | Needham High | The Bromfield High School | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
11.0Lowest |
11.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.