Compare towns
Needham vs Salisbury vs Dover vs Dedham
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).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
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 | Salisbury | Dover | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
5,656 |
2,308Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
51±6.9Highest 28% above MA |
47.5±4 19% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Salisbury 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% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Dover 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% |
29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
50.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Dedham 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 |
$92,469±$7kLowest 11% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$465,900±$31kLowest 17% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% 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 |
$1,770±$444Lowest about the MA average |
— | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,561Lowest 24% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.8%±11.2 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | — | — | Dedham |
| High school in town | Needham High | — | — | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | — | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.