Compare towns
Dunstable vs Killingly vs Thompson vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunstable has the most homeowners (96.5%).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Topsfield has the most people working from home (29.4%).
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.
| Measure | Dunstable | Killingly | Thompson | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
17,867Highest |
9,337 |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 7% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable and Killingly 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 158% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16k 142% above U.S. |
| Dunstable and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30k 103% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,115±$538 21% below U.S. |
| Dunstable and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020 189% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsfield 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Thompson School District | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.