Compare towns
Dunstable vs Groton vs Ware vs Harvard
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%).
Groton has the most kids (28.3% under 18).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Ware | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
11,390Highest |
10,048 |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
| Harvard and Ware 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% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest 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±$23k 101% above MA |
$192,958±$27k 86% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% 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 |
$743,400±$46k 32% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
| Harvard and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,458±$335Highest 17% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
| Groton and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020 51% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below 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% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Ware 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% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 23 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #4 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Groton-Dunstable | Ware | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.7Highest |
11.1 |
11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.