Compare towns
Exeter vs Needham vs Canton vs Kingston
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Exeter | Needham | Canton | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
32,459Highest |
24,748 |
6,275Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kingston and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest 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%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest 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±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9k 78% above U.S. |
$105,330±$12kLowest 30% 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. |
$492,900±$58k 48% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,315±$178 64% above U.S. |
$1,393±$156Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$7,906 153% 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%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest 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% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than 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. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest 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 | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Needham | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Needham High | Canton High | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.9Lowest |
13.1Highest |
12.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | 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.