Compare towns
Canton vs Hooksett vs Needham vs Ashland
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 the most renters (26.4% rent).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
15,057Lowest |
32,459Highest |
18,873 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.1±1.4 8% 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canton and Ashland 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% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $143,381±$9k 78% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$127,539±$11k 58% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$611,700±$18k 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178 64% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Ashland and Needham 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. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,444 139% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.2%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Ashland 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±3.3 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 | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Hooksett School District | Needham | Ashland |
| High school in town | Canton High | None in town | Needham High | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | 11.9Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| 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.