Compare towns
Dunstable vs Acton vs Harvard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunstable has the most affordable homes ($674k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Dunstable | Acton | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
24,155Highest |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
| Acton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Acton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23k 101% above MA |
$158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
| Harvard and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30kLowest 20% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
| Harvard and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
| Acton and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020Lowest 51% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Harvard and Acton 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Acton-Boxborough | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.