Compare towns
Dunstable vs Castleton vs Topsfield vs Princeton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Princeton has the oldest population (median age 46.1).
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 | Castleton | Topsfield | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
4,453 |
6,564Highest |
3,529 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 7% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
46.1±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Princeton 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsfield and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$195,718±$16k 142% above U.S. |
$158,750±$46k 97% above U.S. |
| 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±$30k 103% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$520,500±$48k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,115±$538 21% below U.S. |
$897±$852Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Dunstable and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020 189% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,633 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.8%±46.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Princeton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.5%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Princeton 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #172 of 282 in MA | #59 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Topsfield | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.