Compare towns
Exeter vs Needham vs Canton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Exeter | Needham | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Lowest |
32,459Highest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9k 78% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,315±$178 64% 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 | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,560Lowest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Needham | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Needham High | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.9Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | 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.