Compare towns
Needham vs Upton vs Canton vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
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 | Needham | Upton | Canton | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
8,189 |
24,748 |
2,308Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
| Dover and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$143,381±$9kLowest 38% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,315±$178 31% above MA |
— |
| Needham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | — |
| High school in town | Needham High | Blackstone Valley | Canton High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
11.2Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.