Compare towns
Dunstable vs Harvard vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunstable has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Oakham has the most affordable homes ($420k 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 | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408 |
6,927Highest |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
| Oakham 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Harvard 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 101% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
| 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 20% above MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637Highest 25% below MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
| Dunstable and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020 51% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #4 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Harvard | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
MA 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.