Compare towns
Grantham vs Needham vs Canterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
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 | Grantham | Needham | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,465 |
32,459Highest |
2,353Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.4±7.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.6±3.8 25% above U.S. |
| Grantham and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canterbury and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,403±$54kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$129,333±$37k 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,100±$39kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$443,700±$21k 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,136±$233Lowest 51% above U.S. |
| Needham and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,605 144% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,421Lowest 138% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
71.7%±48.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canterbury and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #6 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Grantham School District | Needham | Shaker Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 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.