Compare towns
Canterbury vs Dunstable vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canterbury has the most affordable homes ($334k median).
Dunstable has the most expensive homes ($674k median).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Canterbury | Dunstable | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,124 |
3,408Lowest |
5,300Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.4±4.5 24% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.3±10.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Columbia and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canterbury and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,198±$6kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$127,000±$30k 57% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,200±$12kLowest about the U.S. average |
$674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$361,500±$16k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $924±$367Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,325±$637Highest 6% below U.S. |
$966±$304 32% below U.S. |
| Dunstable and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,140Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
$5,228 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±13 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Columbia and Dunstable 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 | #125 of 149 in CT | #4 of 282 in MA | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canterbury School District | Groton-Dunstable | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.