Compare towns
Dunstable vs Needham vs Topsfield
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 most affordable homes ($674k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Topsfield has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
32,459Highest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
| Needham and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Topsfield 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% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
71.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$195,718±$16kLowest 88% 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±$30kLowest 20% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$853,400±$40k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020Lowest 51% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Needham 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% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Topsfield 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 | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Needham | Topsfield |
| 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.