Compare towns

Dunstable vs Holyoke 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%).
Holyoke has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Groton has the most people working from home (27.5%).

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.

MeasureDunstableHolyokeGroton
People
Population
3,408Lowest
37,813Highest
11,390
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.6%
MA: +7.4%
-4.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2.4Highest
4% above MA
40±1.6Lowest
about the MA average
41.4±2.7
4% above MA
Dunstable and Groton 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%
21.4%±1.9Lowest
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%±2.6Lowest
MA: 17.9%
20.1%±1.6Highest
MA: 17.9%
17.3%±2.8
MA: 17.9%
Holyoke and Groton 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%
25.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
70.1%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.1%±2.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.4%±0.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1.9
MA: 7.9%
Dunstable and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$208,512±$23kHighest
101% above MA
$53,605±$3kLowest
48% below MA
$192,958±$27k
86% above MA
Dunstable and Groton 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
$274,100±$8kLowest
51% below MA
$743,400±$46kHighest
32% above MA
Groton and Dunstable 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
$1,021±$60Lowest
42% below MA
$1,458±$335Highest
17% below MA
Groton 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
$4,065Lowest
32% below MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
60%±77.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
51.7%±5.4
MA: 51.8%
43.8%±17Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Dunstable and Holyoke 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%
27%Highest
MA: 10%
3.8%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
41.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
88.8%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987
23 yrs newer than MA
1950Lowest
14 yrs older than MA
1988Highest
24 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
18% above MA
19 minLowest
34% below MA
32 min
11% above MA
Work from home
20%±3.9
MA: 18.6%
11.1%±2.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
27.5%±5.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
Groton and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #4 of 282 in MA #281 of 282 in MA #39 of 282 in MA
School district Groton-Dunstable Holyoke · Springfield Groton-Dunstable
High school in town None in town Holyoke High Groton Dunstable Regional
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.5Lowest
13.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.