Compare towns
Dunstable vs Hampton vs Union 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 highest household income ($209k).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Paxton has the most people working from home (25.5%).
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 | Hampton | Union | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408 |
1,647 |
944Lowest |
5,002Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3 28% above U.S. |
41.8±3.3 7% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Union 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% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Hampton 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$134,083±$8k 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$472,300±$29k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288Lowest 9% below U.S. |
— | $1,386±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
| Paxton and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
$7,129 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Paxton and Dunstable 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 | — | — | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Hampton School District | Union School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.