Compare towns
Dunstable vs Groton vs Norwell
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 affordable homes ($674k median).
Groton has the shortest commute (32 min average).
Norwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Groton | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
11,390Highest |
11,361 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Highest 4% above MA |
41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Dunstable and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Groton and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
69.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 101% above MA |
$192,958±$27k 86% above MA |
$188,699±$25kLowest 82% above MA |
| 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±$30kLowest 20% above MA |
$743,400±$46k 32% above MA |
$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020Lowest 51% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norwell 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% |
3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 23 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Groton and Norwell 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 | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Groton-Dunstable | Norwell |
| High school in town | None in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.7Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.