Compare towns

Dunstable vs Eliot vs Pepperell

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).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
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.

MeasureDunstableEliotPepperell
People
Population
3,408Lowest
7,146
11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2.4Lowest
7% above U.S.
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
42.4±3.3
9% above U.S.
Eliot 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
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
Dunstable and Pepperell 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%
27.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
62.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.1%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
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
158% above U.S.
$101,522±$10kLowest
26% above U.S.
$124,073±$12k
54% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$674,000±$30kHighest
103% above U.S.
$498,900±$62k
50% above U.S.
$482,100±$14kLowest
45% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,325±$637
6% below U.S.
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
$1,295±$238Lowest
8% below U.S.
Eliot and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,020Highest
189% above U.S.
$4,549Lowest
46% above U.S.
$6,698
115% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
60%±77.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1
U.S.: 51.1%
45.1%±16.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dunstable and Eliot 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%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
34 min
28% above U.S.
Work from home
20%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Dunstable and Pepperell 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 #19 of 133 in ME #153 of 282 in MA
School district Groton-Dunstable RSU 35/MSAD 35 North Middlesex
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.