Compare towns
Needham vs West Warwick vs Woonsocket 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
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
West Warwick has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | West Warwick | Woonsocket | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
31,173 |
43,521Highest |
5,930Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.8±1.5 10% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Dover and Needham 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% |
15.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 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% |
20%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Warwick 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% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and West 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. |
$77,608±$7k 4% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$330,800±$12k about the U.S. average |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% 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±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,303±$74 8% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$4,962 59% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±7.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Woonsocket 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
57% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest 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 | #33 of 38 in RI | #37 of 38 in RI | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | West Warwick | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | Needham High | West Warwick High School | Woonsocket High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
13.0 |
15.2Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.