Compare towns
Needham vs Wolfeboro 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Wolfeboro has the most affordable homes ($547k 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 | Wolfeboro | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
6,571 |
2,308Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
47.5±4 22% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.8 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest 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. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60kLowest 64% above U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% 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. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% 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% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Needham High | Kingswood Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.