Compare towns
Needham vs Methuen vs Milton 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).
Methuen has the most affordable homes ($500k median).
Milton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1945).
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 | Methuen | Milton | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
53,475Highest |
28,587 |
2,308Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average |
41.1±1.8 about the MA average |
47.5±4Highest 19% 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% |
21.3%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Milton 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% |
17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Methuen 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% |
31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.9% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Milton 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 106% above MA |
$113,310±$7kLowest 9% above MA |
$188,529±$15k 81% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA |
$933,200±$31k 66% 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 |
$1,749±$91 about the MA average |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,061Lowest 16% below MA |
$9,677 61% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Methuen | Milton | — |
| High school in town | Needham High | Methuen High | Milton High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
13.1Highest |
12.4 |
— |
| 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.