Compare towns

Dunstable vs Groton vs Middlesex

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).
Groton has the most kids (28.3% under 18).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k 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.

MeasureDunstableGrotonMiddlesex
People
Population
3,408
11,390Highest
1,943Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2.4
7% above U.S.
41.4±2.7Lowest
6% above U.S.
44.4±3.9Highest
14% above U.S.
Middlesex 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
U.S.: 22%
28.3%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Groton 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%
17.3%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Middlesex and Groton 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%
70.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.1%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dunstable and Groton 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.
$192,958±$27k
139% above U.S.
$109,632±$13kLowest
36% above U.S.
Dunstable and Groton 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.
$743,400±$46kHighest
123% above U.S.
$376,300±$40kLowest
13% above U.S.
Groton and Dunstable 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.
$1,458±$335Highest
3% above U.S.
$1,333±$359
6% below U.S.
Groton and Middlesex 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.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,483Lowest
108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
60%±77.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.8%±17
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dunstable and Groton 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%
3.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1986Lowest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
32 min
22% above U.S.
27 minLowest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
20%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.5%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex and Groton 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 #39 of 282 in MA —
School district Groton-Dunstable Groton-Dunstable Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town None in town Groton Dunstable Regional None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.7
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.