Compare towns
Needham vs Westford 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 the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Westford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
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 | Westford | Dover | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
24,690 |
2,308Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.8±1.2Lowest 7% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Dover and Dedham 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% |
25.6%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Westford 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% |
14.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
73.9% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest 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 |
$187,198±$10k 80% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$748,500±$32k 33% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 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 |
$2,436±$422Highest 38% above MA |
— | $2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
| Westford 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 |
$9,695 62% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
53%±8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
85.9% 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 |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
27%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest 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 | #20 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Nashoba Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Westford | — | Dedham |
| High school in town | Needham High | Westford Academy | — | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
14.7Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.