Compare towns

Campton vs Canton vs Needham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Campton has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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.

MeasureCamptonCantonNeedham
People
Population
3,407Lowest
24,748
32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+13%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.2±3.7Highest
26% above U.S.
42.6±2.3Lowest
10% above U.S.
43.1±1.6
11% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.5%±6.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.9%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
23.2%±10.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Campton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
51.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
67.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.2%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Campton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$118,870±$21kLowest
47% above U.S.
$143,381±$9k
78% above U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$356,300±$38kLowest
7% above U.S.
$710,600±$27k
114% above U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$2,315±$178Lowest
64% above U.S.
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
Needham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,028Lowest
93% above U.S.
$6,560
110% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
72.6%±44.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.4%±9.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Campton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
12% below U.S.
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
28.3%±10.8
U.S.: 15.1%
25.7%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Needham and Campton 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 #68 of 120 in NH #81 of 282 in MA #19 of 282 in MA
School district Campton School District Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton Needham
High school in town None in town Canton High Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.1Highest
11.9Lowest
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.