Compare towns
Dunstable vs Newfields vs Princeton vs Harvard
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 youngest population (median age 41.5).
Newfields has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Princeton has the most affordable homes ($521k median).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Newfields | Princeton | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408 |
2,023Lowest |
3,529 |
6,927Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
46.1±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
| Princeton and Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Princeton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Dunstable 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 158% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15k 145% above U.S. |
$158,750±$46kLowest 97% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Harvard 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 103% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$520,500±$48kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$897±$852Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020 189% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,633Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.8%±46.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Princeton 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% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.5%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #4 of 282 in MA | — | #59 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Newfields School District | Wachusett | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.