Compare towns
Needham vs Scituate vs Dover vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Scituate has the most affordable homes ($822k median).
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 | Scituate | Dover | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
5,796Lowest |
5,930 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
51.7±3.8Highest 29% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
64.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 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 |
$124,549±$27kLowest 20% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$821,600±$82kLowest 46% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% 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±$183 37% above MA |
$884±$721Lowest 50% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% 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+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,345Lowest 39% above 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%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.4%±8 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
83%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
42 minHighest 44% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
26.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 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 | #43 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 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 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.