Compare towns
Dunstable vs Everett vs Lawrence vs Princeton
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 highest household income ($209k).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Lawrence has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Everett | Lawrence | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
50,045 |
88,736Highest |
3,529 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
46.1±7Highest 15% above MA |
| Princeton and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Dunstable 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%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Princeton and Dunstable 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% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Everett 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 101% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$158,750±$46k 53% above MA |
| 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 20% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$520,500±$48k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020Highest 51% above MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,633 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6 MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton and Lawrence 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% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Princeton and Dunstable 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #59 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Everett | Lawrence | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | Lawrence High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
13.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.