Compare towns
Dunstable vs Epping vs Pepperell vs Princeton
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%).
Pepperell has the most renters (15.7% rent).
Princeton has the most people working from home (29.5%).
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 | Pepperell | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
7,430 |
11,663Highest |
3,529 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
46.1±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Princeton and Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Princeton 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% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Princeton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest 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. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$158,750±$46k 97% above U.S. |
| Dunstable and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$520,500±$48k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$897±$852Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Epping 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. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
$6,633Lowest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.8%±46.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Princeton and Epping 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.5%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Princeton and Epping 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #59 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Epping School District | North Middlesex | Wachusett |
| 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.