Compare towns
Needham vs Windsor Locks vs Enfield 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 most kids (27.5% under 18).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Enfield has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
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 | Windsor Locks | Enfield | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
12,579 |
41,090Highest |
5,930Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
40.7±1.9Lowest 5% above 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.7 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% |
18.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±1.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor Locks and Enfield 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% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Windsor Locks 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. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$90,404±$5k 12% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$252,900±$7kLowest 24% 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. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,574±$83 11% above 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,360 72% 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% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.5%±2.5Lowest 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #123 of 149 in CT | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Windsor Locks School District | Capitol Region Education Council · Enfield School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | Needham High | Windsor Locks High School | Enfield High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
8.9Lowest |
13.5Highest |
9.8 |
| 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.