Compare towns
Epping vs Canton 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
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Epping | Canton | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430Lowest |
24,748 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Lowest 10% 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 | 18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 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+ | 37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1Lowest 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 | $104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9k 78% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$2,315±$178 64% 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 | $6,936 122% above U.S. |
$6,560Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1Lowest 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 | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #77 of 120 in NH | #81 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Epping School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Needham |
| High school in town | Epping High School | Canton High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
13.1Highest |
11.9 |
| 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.