Compare towns
Dunstable vs Exeter vs Newfields vs Paxton
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 kids (22.4% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Paxton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1967).
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 | Exeter | Newfields | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408 |
16,151Highest |
2,023Lowest |
5,002 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
41.8±3.3 7% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Newfields 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Paxton 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% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Paxton and Newfields 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. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15k 145% above U.S. |
$134,083±$8k 66% above U.S. |
| Dunstable and Newfields 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. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$472,300±$29k 42% above U.S. |
| Dunstable and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,386±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Newfields and Exeter 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. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,129Lowest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Exeter 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #4 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newfields School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.