Compare towns
Charlton vs Dunstable vs Oxford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
Dunstable has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Oxford has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Charlton | Dunstable | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,435Highest |
3,408Lowest |
13,385 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±4Highest 8% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
42±2.8 5% above MA |
| Charlton and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Charlton and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Charlton and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6% MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,587±$8k 13% above MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$103,862±$10kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,500±$19k 24% below MA |
$674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
$374,900±$18kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,381±$415Highest 22% below MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA |
| Charlton and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,617Lowest 23% below MA |
$9,020Highest 51% above MA |
$4,622 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.8%±15.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 21 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 13%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Dunstable and Oxford 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 | #133 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric | Groton-Dunstable | Oxford |
| High school in town | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School | None in town | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | 10.3Highest |
| 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.