Compare towns
Dunstable vs Dedham vs Harvard vs Groton
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 homeowners (96.5%).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Groton has the most kids (28.3% 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 | Dedham | Harvard | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
25,237Highest |
6,927 |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA |
| Dedham and Harvard 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% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton 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% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Groton 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% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23k 101% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$192,958±$27k 86% above MA |
| Harvard and Dunstable 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 |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$743,400±$46k 32% above MA |
| Harvard and Groton 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 |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020 51% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% 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%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard 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% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 23 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #4 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Dedham | Harvard | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | The Bromfield High School | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
11.0 |
13.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.