Compare towns
Needham vs Williston vs Dover vs Sudbury
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1965).
Williston has the most affordable homes ($476k median).
Dover has the most people working from home (37.4%).
Sudbury has the most kids (28.5% under 18).
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 | Williston | Dover | Sudbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
10,144 |
2,308Lowest |
19,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
42.3±2.1Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Dover and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
28.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sudbury 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% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
83.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$236,250±$17k 193% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$988,900±$42k 197% 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. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
— | $1,445±$895Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% 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% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.8%±12.1Lowest 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% |
4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
33%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Sudbury 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #1 of 282 in MA | #15 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | Lincoln-Sudbury · Sudbury |
| High school in town | Needham High | None in town | — | Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | — | 11.3Lowest |
| 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.