Compare towns
Needham vs Washington 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($371k median).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
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 | Washington | Dover | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
526Lowest |
5,930 |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 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% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest 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 |
$95,278±$12kLowest 8% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$370,700±$32kLowest 34% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% 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±$183 37% above MA |
— | $2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% 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 |
$4,381Lowest 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
92.5% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest 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 | — | #1 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | — | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Dedham |
| High school in town | Needham High | — | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
10.4 |
| 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.