Compare towns
Suffield vs Dover vs Needham vs Oxford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Oxford has the oldest population (median age 45.2).
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 | Suffield | Dover | Needham | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,702 |
5,930Lowest |
32,459Highest |
12,991 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.2±5.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Oxford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.7 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+ | 18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Oxford and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.4Lowest 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 | $119,472±$13kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$128,953±$23k 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$472,400±$20k 42% 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 | $1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,415±$87Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,456 107% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,442Lowest 107% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.3%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±3.7Lowest 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #78 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Suffield School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Needham | Oxford School District |
| High school in town | Suffield High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Needham High | Oxford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
9.8Lowest |
11.9Highest |
10.1 |
| 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.