Compare towns
Dunstable vs Marion vs Nashua
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 highest household income ($209k).
Marion has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Nashua has the most renters (44.2% rent).
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 | Marion | Nashua |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
5,310 |
91,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 7% above U.S. |
53.8±4Highest 38% above U.S. |
40±1.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Nashua 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% |
27.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Marion and Dunstable 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. |
$143,092±$30k 77% above U.S. |
$96,326±$5kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$653,500±$47k 96% above U.S. |
$403,900±$11kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Dunstable and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,176±$516Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,737±$41Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Nashua and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
$5,766Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$6,799 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
75.8%±26.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marion 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marion 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 | #141 of 282 in MA | #67 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Marion | Nashua School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Nashua High School South |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.