Compare towns
Dunstable vs Hampton Falls vs Pepperell
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 Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k 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.
| Measure | Dunstable | Hampton Falls | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408 |
2,328Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Pepperell 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% |
19.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell 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% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell 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. |
$166,157±$14k 106% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30k 103% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Dunstable 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. |
$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell 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% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | — | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Hampton Falls School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.

