Compare towns
Upton vs Needham vs Dover vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
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 | Upton | Needham | Dover | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
32,459Highest |
5,930Lowest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| Upton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5% MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$147,125±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Needham | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Sutton |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Needham High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
11.9 |
9.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| 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.