Compare towns
Dunstable vs Marion vs Pepperell
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 highest household income ($209k).
Marion has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k 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 | Marion | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
5,310 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell 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% |
27.3%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.7% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 101% above MA |
$143,092±$30k 38% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
$653,500±$47k 16% above MA |
$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
| 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±$637Highest 25% below MA |
$1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
| Dunstable and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020Highest 51% above MA |
$5,766Lowest 4% below MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.8% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Marion | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.