Compare towns
Dunstable vs Hampton vs Topsfield vs Harvard
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 homeowners (96.5%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Hampton | Topsfield | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
16,426Highest |
6,564 |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable and Topsfield 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 158% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16k 142% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| 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 103% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kLowest 65% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54k 151% above U.S. |
| Topsfield and Harvard 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. |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
| Hampton 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. |
$6,813Lowest 118% 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%±77.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #4 of 282 in MA | #31 of 120 in NH | #172 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Topsfield | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
— | 11.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.