Compare towns
Dunstable vs Everett vs Harvard vs Paxton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunstable has the most homeowners (96.5%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Paxton has the most affordable homes ($472k 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 | Everett | Harvard | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
50,045Highest |
6,927 |
5,002 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
41.8±3.3 4% above MA |
| Harvard and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
18.4%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Paxton and Harvard 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 MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
54.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23k 101% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$134,083±$8k 29% above MA |
| Harvard and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30k 20% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$472,300±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,386±$88 21% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020 51% above MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,129 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard 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 MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
1.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
91.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #4 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Everett | Harvard | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | The Bromfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.0Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
MA 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.