Compare towns
Needham vs Worcester vs Ripton 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).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
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 | Ripton | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
831 |
508Lowest |
5,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest 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% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above 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. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below 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. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Ripton 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest 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 | — | — | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | Needham High | None in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | — | 9.8Lowest |
| 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.