Compare towns

Dunstable vs Devens vs Pepperell

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dunstable has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Devens has the most people working from home (28.5%).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k 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.

MeasureDunstableDevensPepperell
People
Population
3,408
1,723Lowest
11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-7.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+0.9%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2.4Lowest
4% above MA
48.6±4.3Highest
22% above MA
42.4±3.3
6% above MA
Devens and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.4%±4.3Highest
MA: 19.4%
5.5%±3.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
20.1%±3.3
MA: 19.4%
Dunstable and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15%±2.6
MA: 17.9%
14%±5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
18.2%±2.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
Pepperell and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
62.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
21.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
43.8%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.1%±2.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.2%±4.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.7%±2.3
MA: 7.9%
Dunstable and Pepperell 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
101% above MA
$189,250±$63k
82% above MA
$124,073±$12kLowest
19% above MA
Dunstable and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$674,000±$30kHighest
20% above MA
$556,800±$96k
about the MA average
$482,100±$14kLowest
14% below MA
Dunstable and Devens 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
$1,500±$539Highest
15% below MA
$1,295±$238Lowest
27% below MA
Devens and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,020Highest
51% above MA
$5,556Lowest
7% below MA
$6,698
12% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
60%±77.1
MA: 51.8%
85.4%±64.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
45.1%±16.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Devens 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%
25.3%Highest
MA: 10%
8%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
79.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
84.3%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
23 yrs newer than MA
1950Lowest
14 yrs older than MA
1981
17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
18% above MA
28 minLowest
4% below MA
34 min
16% above MA
Work from home
20%±3.9
MA: 18.6%
28.5%±11.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
18.1%±2.7Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Devens 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 — #153 of 282 in MA
School district Groton-Dunstable — North Middlesex
High school 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.