Compare towns
Canton vs Dover vs Needham vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Needham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Canton | Dover | Needham | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
5,930Lowest |
32,459Highest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| Dover and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest 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+ | 18.8%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest 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 | $143,381±$9kLowest 38% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% 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 | $2,315±$178 31% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 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 | $6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 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 | 5.2% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Needham | Sutton |
| High school in town | Canton High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Needham High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.9 |
12.6 |
| 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.