Compare towns
Needham vs Worcester vs Needham vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k 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 | Worcester | Needham | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
207,055Highest |
32,459 |
5,930Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
| 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 37% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
| 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 67% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | — | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | Needham High | South High Community | — | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
14.6Highest |
— | 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.