Compare towns
Dunstable vs Bedford vs Topsfield
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).
Bedford has the most renters (31.2% rent).
Topsfield has the most kids (24.8% under 18).
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 | Bedford | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
14,727Highest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
44.3±1.6Highest 11% above MA |
42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
| Bedford and Topsfield 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% |
20.8%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield 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% |
19.1%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69.6% MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Bedford 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 |
$172,400±$23kLowest 66% above MA |
$195,718±$16k 88% above MA |
| Dunstable and Topsfield 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 |
$898,500±$43kHighest 60% above MA |
$853,400±$40k 52% above MA |
| Bedford and Topsfield 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 |
$2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| 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%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Bedford 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% |
5.5% MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Bedford and Topsfield 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 | #7 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Bedford | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.