Compare towns

Dunstable vs Concord vs Topsfield

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 most homeowners (96.5%).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k median).
Topsfield has the most people working from home (29.4%).

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.

MeasureDunstableConcordTopsfield
People
Population
3,408Lowest
44,375Highest
6,564
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2.4
7% above U.S.
40.7±1.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
42.2±1.8Highest
8% above U.S.
Topsfield and Dunstable 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%
17.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24.8%±4.7Highest
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%
18.7%±1.5
U.S.: 17.2%
22.4%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Topsfield and Concord 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%
42.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
71.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.1%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6%±0.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dunstable and Concord 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
158% above U.S.
$84,902±$5kLowest
5% above U.S.
$195,718±$16k
142% 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.
$350,900±$13kLowest
5% above U.S.
$853,400±$40kHighest
157% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,325±$637
6% below U.S.
$1,441±$43Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,115±$538Lowest
21% below U.S.
Concord and Dunstable 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.
$7,227Lowest
132% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
60%±77.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±5.2
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±40.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dunstable and Concord 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%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
56.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
28 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
20%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
14.1%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.4%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Topsfield and Dunstable 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 #89 of 120 in NH #172 of 282 in MA
School district Groton-Dunstable Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District Topsfield
High school in town None in town Concord High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.0
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.