Compare towns
Dunstable vs Harvard vs Worcester vs Groton
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%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Groton has the most kids (28.3% under 18).
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 | Worcester | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
6,927 |
207,055Highest |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
| Harvard and Dunstable 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% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Groton 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% MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23k 101% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$192,958±$27k 86% 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 |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$743,400±$46k 32% above MA |
| Harvard and Groton 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±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
| Worcester and Groton 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 |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 23 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #4 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Harvard | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | The Bromfield High School | South High Community | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0Lowest |
14.6Highest |
13.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.