Compare towns
Dunstable vs Needham vs Princeton
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 youngest population (median age 41.5).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Princeton has the most affordable homes ($521k 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 | Needham | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
32,459Highest |
3,529 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
46.1±7Highest 15% above MA |
| Princeton and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Dunstable 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% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Princeton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23k 101% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$158,750±$46kLowest 53% above MA |
| Needham and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30k 20% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$520,500±$48kLowest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020 51% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,633Lowest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
4.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Princeton 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #59 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Needham | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.