Compare towns
Needham vs Winchester vs Concord vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Winchester has the youngest population (median age 42.5).
Concord has the most renters (24.3% 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 | Winchester | Concord | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
23,406 |
18,223 |
5,930Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.5±1.9Lowest 6% above MA |
47.6±2Highest 19% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
| Concord and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±2.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Winchester 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 MA: 17.9% |
18%±2 MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
79.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Concord 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 |
$230,198±$21k 121% above MA |
$195,350±$22kLowest 88% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% above MA |
$1,215,200±$39k 116% above MA |
$1,210,000±$72k 115% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
| Dover and Winchester 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 |
$2,279±$481Lowest 29% above MA |
$2,631±$166 49% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
| Dover and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3 MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3 MA: 18.6% |
36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Concord and Dover 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 282 in MA | #10 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Winchester | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | Needham High | Winchester High School | Concord Carlisle High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
14.8Highest |
11.4 |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.