Compare towns
Dunstable vs Harvard vs Nashua 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 most homeowners (96.5%).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Nashua has the most renters (44.2% rent).
Princeton has the oldest population (median age 46.1).
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 | Harvard | Nashua | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
6,927 |
91,294Highest |
3,529 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 7% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
40±1.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.1±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Princeton and Harvard 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% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.2Lowest 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% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Princeton and Nashua 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% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable and Nashua 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. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$96,326±$5kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$158,750±$46k 97% 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. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$403,900±$11kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$520,500±$48k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,737±$41Highest 23% above U.S. |
$897±$852Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Nashua 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. |
$6,799 118% above U.S. |
$6,633Lowest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.8%±46.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Princeton 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% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.5%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #4 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #67 of 120 in NH | #59 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Harvard | Nashua School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | The Bromfield High School | Nashua High School South | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.