Compare towns
Canton vs Hooksett vs Needham vs Natick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Natick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
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 | Hooksett | Needham | Natick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
5,876Lowest |
32,459 |
36,873Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
42.6±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
43.3±1.4Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Natick 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% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Natick 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% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett 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±$9k 78% above U.S. |
$101,053±$25kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$138,538±$11k 72% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
$348,100±$32kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$821,000±$25k 147% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178 64% above U.S. |
$1,811±$283Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,134±$124 51% 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 | $6,560 110% above U.S. |
$4,960Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,914 186% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.1%±1.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | — | Needham | Natick |
| High school in town | Canton High | — | Needham High | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
12.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.