Compare towns
Needham vs Hull vs Dedham 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%).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% 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 | Hull | Dedham | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
10,138 |
25,237 |
2,308Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
47.5±4 19% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 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% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hull 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% MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Dedham 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 |
$115,485±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$646,000±$38kLowest 15% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$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 |
$2,081±$187 18% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
— |
| Needham and Hull 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 |
$6,089Lowest about the MA average |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest 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 | #66 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Hull | Dedham | — |
| High school in town | Needham High | Hull High | Dedham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
8.8Lowest |
10.4 |
— |
| 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.