Compare towns
Needham vs Sutton vs Chilmark 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 the most renters (16.9% rent).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
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 | Sutton | Chilmark | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
9,452 |
1,578Lowest |
5,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
| Chilmark 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% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.1% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest 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 |
$147,125±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117k 138% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,750±$2k 56% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
| Dover and Chilmark 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 |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
32 min 8% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | — | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Sutton | Up-Island Regional | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | Needham High | Sutton High School | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
12.6Highest |
— | 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.