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Canton vs Needham vs Ogunquit vs Ashland

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

Canton, MANorfolk County · 24,748 people
Needham, MAMassachusetts · 32,459 people
OgunquitOgunquit, MEYork County · 1,379 people
Ashland, MAMiddlesex County · 18,873 people

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canton has the most renters (26.4% rent).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($612k 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.

MeasureCantonNeedhamOgunquitAshland
People
Population
24,748
32,459Highest
1,379Lowest
18,873
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+13.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±2.3
10% above U.S.
43.1±1.6
11% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
42.1±1.4Lowest
8% above U.S.
Kids under 18
22.9%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.4%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
18.8%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
67.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
60.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Needham and Canton 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.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kLowest
42% above U.S.
$127,539±$11k
58% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$710,600±$27k
114% above U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$875,700±$79k
163% above U.S.
$611,700±$18kLowest
84% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,315±$178Lowest
64% 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.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$7,444
139% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.4%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
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%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 min
36% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
37 minHighest
39% above U.S.
Work from home
25.7%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit 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 #19 of 282 in MA — #42 of 282 in MA
School district Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton — — Ashland
High school in town Canton High — — Ashland High
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1Lowest
 — —
14.0Highest
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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.