Compare towns
Needham vs Rowe vs Dover vs Newton
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).
Rowe has the most affordable homes ($275k median).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Newton has the most renters (30% rent).
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 | Rowe | Dover | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
453Lowest |
2,308 |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
48.9±6.4Highest 22% above MA |
47.5±4 19% above MA |
42.1±0.9Lowest 5% above MA |
| Rowe 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% |
23%±5 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
26.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Newton 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 |
$69,583±$13kLowest 33% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$190,304±$9k 83% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$275,000±$41kLowest 51% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$1,264,900±$43k 125% above MA |
| Dover and Newton 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 |
$1,313±$576Lowest 25% below MA |
— | $2,370±$81 35% above MA |
| Needham and Newton 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 |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5 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% |
15.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
90.8% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
36 min 22% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.2%±2 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 | — | #1 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Rowe | — | Newton |
| High school in town | Needham High | None in town | — | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | — | 10.8Lowest |
| 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.