Compare towns
Dunstable vs Ayer vs Norwell
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 highest household income ($209k).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Norwell has the most expensive homes ($866k median).
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 | Ayer | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
8,645 |
11,361Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Highest 4% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Dunstable and Ayer 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% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Norwell and Dunstable 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% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4Lowest 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 | $208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$188,699±$25k 82% above MA |
| Dunstable and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30k 20% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020 51% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norwell 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% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Norwell 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Ayer Shirley School District | Norwell |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.