Compare towns
Dunstable vs Mendon vs Sutton
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).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k 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 | Mendon | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
6,325 |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Sutton and Mendon 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% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Mendon 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 |
$132,256±$33kLowest 27% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
$616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
| Dunstable and Mendon 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 |
$1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Mendon and Dunstable 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 |
$7,213 20% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon 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% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1985 21 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Mendon-Upton | Sutton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
| 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.