Compare towns
Dunstable vs Hamilton vs Groton
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%).
Hamilton has the oldest population (median age 43.5).
Groton has the most kids (28.3% under 18).
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 | Hamilton | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
7,600 |
11,390Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
43.5±2.1Highest 9% above MA |
41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA |
| Hamilton and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Hamilton 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% |
21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.8% MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Hamilton 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 |
$129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
$192,958±$27k 86% 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 |
$720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
| Groton and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
| Hamilton and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton 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% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 23 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Groton and Hamilton 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 | #36 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Hamilton-Wenham | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Lowest |
13.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.