Compare towns
Acton vs Needham vs Canton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Acton | Needham | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Lowest |
32,459Highest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Acton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Canton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$143,381±$9kLowest 38% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$710,600±$27kLowest 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,315±$178 31% above MA |
| Needham and Canton 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Needham | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Needham High | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.9Lowest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.