Compare towns
Needham vs Reading vs Wakefield 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%).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% 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 | Reading | Wakefield | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
25,612 |
27,793 |
2,308Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
| Dover and Reading 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% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Wakefield 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% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 106% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$134,306±$14kLowest 29% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$723,500±$24kLowest 29% 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 |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
— |
| Needham and Reading 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 |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$7,779Lowest 30% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Lowest 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | — |
| High school in town | Needham High | — | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.