Compare towns
Dunstable vs Hanover vs Princeton
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).
Hanover has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Princeton has the most affordable homes ($521k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
11,685Highest |
3,529 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 7% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
46.1±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Princeton and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Princeton 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% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Princeton and Hanover 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% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
$158,750±$46kLowest 97% above U.S. |
| Dunstable and Hanover 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. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$520,500±$48kLowest 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$897±$852Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020 189% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,633Lowest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.8%±46.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Princeton and Hanover 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.5%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Princeton and Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #59 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.