Compare towns
Needham vs Needham vs Dover vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most people working from home (37.4%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
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 | Needham | Dover | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
32,459Highest |
2,308Lowest |
5,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
| Dover and Dover 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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±$13kLowest 106% above MA |
$214,308±$13kLowest 106% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149k 133% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
| Dover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Lowest 37% above MA |
$2,409±$183Lowest 37% 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+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | — | — | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | Needham High | — | — | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | — | 9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.