Compare towns
Upton vs Canton vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k 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 | Upton | Canton | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
24,748 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
| Upton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest 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+ | 20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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+ | 53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$143,381±$9kLowest 38% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,315±$178 31% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% 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 | $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 | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #46 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Needham |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Canton High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
13.1Highest |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.