Compare towns
Dunstable vs Nelson 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Nelson | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408 |
648Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Dunstable 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% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell 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 158% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| 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 189% above U.S. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest 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% |
1.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | — | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Nelson School District | 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 |
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.