Compare towns
Peru vs Needham vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the most affordable homes ($400k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Dorset has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Peru | Needham | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 434Lowest |
32,459Highest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 16% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83k 88% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Needham and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$105kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Dorset 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 | — |
| School district | — | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.