Compare towns
Dunstable vs Epping vs Topsfield 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 most homeowners (96.5%).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($853k median).
Pepperell has the most renters (15.7% 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 | Epping | Topsfield | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
7,430 |
6,564 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Epping and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 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% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 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% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% 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% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest 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. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16k 142% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% 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. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% 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 | $9,020 189% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,698Lowest 115% 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% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 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% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsfield 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Epping School District | Topsfield | North Middlesex |
| 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.