Compare towns
Douglas vs Dunstable vs Lakeville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Lakeville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Douglas | Dunstable | Lakeville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
3,408Lowest |
11,944Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
43.8±1.9 9% above MA |
| Douglas and Lakeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lakeville and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Lakeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$133,984±$11kLowest 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
$565,900±$27k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,325±$637Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,884±$466Highest 7% above MA |
| Lakeville and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 6% above MA |
$9,020Highest 51% above MA |
$5,536Lowest 8% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±18.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Lakeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1984Lowest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
33 minLowest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
15.2%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA | #96 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Groton-Dunstable | Freetown-Lakeville |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Apponequet Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 10.9Highest |
| 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.