Compare towns
Dunstable vs Harvard vs Newfields vs Paxton
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 kids (22.4% under 18).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Newfields has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Paxton has the most affordable homes ($472k 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 | Harvard | Newfields | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408 |
6,927Highest |
2,023Lowest |
5,002 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7Highest 13% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.8±3.3 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Paxton and Harvard 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% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Paxton and Newfields 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. |
$197,885±$15k 145% above U.S. |
$134,083±$8kLowest 66% 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. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$472,300±$29kLowest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,386±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020 189% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,129Lowest 129% 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% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest 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% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #4 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | — | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Harvard | Newfields School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 6 photos → | 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.