Compare towns
Needham vs Webster vs Needham vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
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 | Webster | Needham | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
2,227Lowest |
32,459Highest |
2,308 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Dover and Webster 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% |
22.6%±8 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster and Needham 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% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 165% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% 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. |
$1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,021Lowest 93% 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% |
53.6%±71Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest 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% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Merrimack Valley School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Needham High | None in town | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.