Compare towns
Needham vs Warwick vs Dover vs Sudbury
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%).
Warwick has the most affordable homes ($355k median).
Dover has the most people working from home (37.4%).
Sudbury has the most kids (28.5% under 18).
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 | Warwick | Dover | Sudbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
83,175Highest |
2,308Lowest |
19,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
44.3±1 14% above U.S. |
47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
42.3±2.1Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Dover and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
28.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sudbury and Needham 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% |
21.6%±1.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
83.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Warwick 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 165% above U.S. |
$88,708±$6kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$236,250±$17k 193% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$354,600±$5kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$988,900±$42k 197% above U.S. |
| 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 70% above U.S. |
$1,363±$76Lowest 4% below U.S. |
— | $1,445±$895 about the U.S. average |
| Needham and Sudbury 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. |
$4,616Lowest 48% 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% |
53.1%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.8%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
33%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Sudbury 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 | #28 of 38 in RI | #1 of 282 in MA | #15 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Warwick | — | Lincoln-Sudbury · Sudbury |
| High school in town | Needham High | Pilgrim High School | — | Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
10.5Lowest |
— | 11.3 |
| 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.