Compare towns
Canton vs Hooksett vs Needham vs Wakefield
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 most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% 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 | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
5,876Lowest |
32,459Highest |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
42.6±2 10% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Needham and Canton 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% |
20%±2.2 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% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Wakefield 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% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest 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. |
$134,306±$14k 66% 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. |
$723,500±$24k 117% 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. |
$1,958±$102 39% 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. |
$7,779 149% 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% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% 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% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 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. |
33 min 26% 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% |
24.6%±3.1 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 | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | — | Needham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Canton High | — | Needham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 11.9 |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.