Compare towns
Dunstable vs Berlin vs Paxton
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).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Paxton has the most affordable homes ($472k 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 | Berlin | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408 |
3,378Lowest |
5,002Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
41.8±3.3 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.4%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Paxton 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% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.4%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$134,083±$8k 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$472,300±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
| Dunstable and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,386±$88 21% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020Highest 51% above MA |
$7,116Lowest 19% above MA |
$7,129 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Berlin 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%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 23 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Paxton 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Berlin-Boylston | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.