Compare towns
Needham vs Nelson vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k 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 | Nelson | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
648Lowest |
5,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 165% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
| 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 70% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Nelson School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | Needham High | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.