Compare towns
Ayer vs Dunstable vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Dunstable has the most homeowners (96.5%).
Topsfield has the most people working from home (29.4%).
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 | Ayer | Dunstable | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
3,408Lowest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
42.2±1.8Highest 6% above MA |
| Topsfield and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.4% MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$195,718±$16k 88% above MA |
| Dunstable and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$674,000±$30k 20% above MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Ayer and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$9,020 51% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield and Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Groton-Dunstable | Topsfield |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 12 photos → | 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.