Compare towns
Needham vs Lawrence vs Everett 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 the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Lawrence has the most affordable homes ($415k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
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 | Lawrence | Everett | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
88,736Highest |
50,045 |
5,930Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
| Dover and Needham 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% |
26.3%±1.6 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Dover 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% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Everett 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 |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% 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±$183 37% above MA |
$1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
| 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 67% above MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Lawrence | Everett | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | Needham High | Lawrence High School | Everett High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
13.6Highest |
12.1 |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.