Compare towns
Dunstable vs Harvard vs Topsfield vs Paxton
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%).
Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Topsfield | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
6,927Highest |
6,564 |
5,002 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
41.8±3.3 4% above MA |
| Harvard and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Dunstable 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% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.4%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23k 101% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$195,718±$16k 88% above MA |
$134,083±$8kLowest 29% 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±$54k 48% above MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$472,300±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
| Topsfield and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,386±$88Highest 21% below MA |
| Paxton 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,129Lowest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest 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% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4% MA: 62.5% |
91.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #4 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Harvard | Topsfield | 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 Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.