Compare towns
Dunstable vs Dover 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 most kids (22.4% under 18).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Nashua has the most renters (44.2% rent).
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 | Dover | Nashua |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408 |
2,308Lowest |
91,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 7% above U.S. |
47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
40±1.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dover 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% |
20.9%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Dover 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% |
15.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nashua and Dover 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% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Dunstable 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 158% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$96,326±$5kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30k 103% above U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$403,900±$11kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637Lowest 6% below U.S. |
— | $1,737±$41Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Nashua 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,799Lowest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #67 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | — | Nashua School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Nashua High School South |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| 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.