Compare towns
Needham vs Westminster vs Windham 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 the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($314k median).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Westminster | Windham | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
497Lowest |
594 |
5,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5 11% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Dover and Windham 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% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster 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% |
19.7%±11.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Westminster 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% |
45.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest 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. |
$81,000±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$313,600±$39kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above 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. |
$749±$315Lowest 47% 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. |
$4,480Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% 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% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Windham 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% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | — | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | — | — | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | Needham High | — | — | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | — | 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.