Compare towns
Dunstable vs Middlesex vs Paxton vs Pepperell
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).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Paxton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1967).
Pepperell has the most renters (15.7% 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 | Middlesex | Paxton | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408 |
1,943Lowest |
5,002 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.8±3.3 7% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Paxton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$134,083±$8k 66% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$472,300±$29k 42% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,386±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Paxton and Middlesex 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. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$7,129 129% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±15.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Paxton 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 | — | #219 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Wachusett | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.