Compare towns
Dunstable vs Hampton Falls vs Topsfield
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 most affordable homes ($674k median).
Hampton Falls has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Topsfield has the most people working from home (29.4%).
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 | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408 |
2,328Lowest |
6,564Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Dunstable 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% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest 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% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable and Hampton Falls 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±$14kLowest 106% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16k 142% above U.S. |
| Dunstable and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30kLowest 103% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76k 132% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Topsfield and Hampton Falls 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. |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% 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 | $9,020Lowest 189% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Topsfield 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% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsfield and Hampton Falls 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 | — | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Hampton Falls School District | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.