Compare towns
Needham vs Smithfield vs Dover vs Lexington
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%).
Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($446k median).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Lexington has the most people working from home (36.7%).
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 | Smithfield | Dover | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
22,233 |
5,930Lowest |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
47.3±0.8Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Lexington 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
25.5%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lexington and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$238,444±$18k 195% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$1,203,100±$35k 262% above U.S. |
| Dover and Lexington 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. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$2,891±$233 105% above U.S. |
| Dover and Lexington 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. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.7%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lexington and Dover 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #1 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Smithfield | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Lexington |
| High school in town | Needham High | Smithfield High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Lexington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
11.8 |
9.8Lowest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.