Compare towns
Dunstable vs Epping vs Paxton vs Topsfield
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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Paxton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1967).
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($853k 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 | Epping | Paxton | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
7,430Highest |
5,002 |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.8±3.3 7% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
| Epping and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Dunstable 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Topsfield 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% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$134,083±$8k 66% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16k 142% above U.S. |
| Dunstable and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30k 103% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$472,300±$29k 42% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,386±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Epping and Paxton 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. |
$6,936Lowest 122% above U.S. |
$7,129 129% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsfield and Paxton 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #219 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Epping School District | Wachusett | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.