Compare towns

Dunstable vs Harvard vs Stoneham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

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%).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).

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.

MeasureDunstableHarvardStoneham
People
Population
3,408Lowest
6,927
23,355Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.6%
MA: +7.4%
+5.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2.4Lowest
4% above MA
44.1±4.7Highest
10% above MA
42.2±2.2
6% above MA
Harvard and Stoneham 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%
20.8%±2.5Lowest
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%
20.4%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
Stoneham 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%
55.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.1%±2.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.7%±1.4
MA: 7.9%
Dunstable and Stoneham 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
$113,964±$10kLowest
10% above MA
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
$671,900±$26kLowest
20% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,325±$637
25% below MA
$1,321±$424Lowest
25% below MA
$2,035±$142Highest
15% above MA
Stoneham and Dunstable 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
$6,523Lowest
9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
60%±77.1
MA: 51.8%
72.5%±51.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
41.9%±8.2Lowest
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%
MA: 10%
5.4%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
89.4%
MA: 62.5%
71%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
23 yrs newer than MA
1975
11 yrs newer than MA
1964Lowest
same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
18% above MA
32 min
9% above MA
28 minLowest
4% below MA
Work from home
20%±3.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
44.8%±6.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
24.6%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #4 of 282 in MA #12 of 282 in MA #117 of 282 in MA
School district Groton-Dunstable Harvard Stoneham
High school in town None in town The Bromfield High School Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.0Highest
10.7Lowest
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.