Compare towns
Dunstable vs Dedham vs Nashua
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).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Nashua has the most affordable homes ($404k 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 | Dedham | Nashua |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
25,237 |
91,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 7% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
40±1.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dedham and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Dedham 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% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$96,326±$5kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$403,900±$11kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Dunstable and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,737±$41 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$6,799Lowest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Dedham 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #4 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #67 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Dedham | Nashua School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | Nashua High School South |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.