Compare towns
Canton vs Epping 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
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
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.
| Measure | Canton | Epping | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748 |
7,430Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Epping and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $143,381±$9k 78% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178 64% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Lowest 23% 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 | $6,560Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Epping School District | — |
| High school in town | Canton High | Epping High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.