Compare towns
Dunstable vs Newfields vs Topsfield
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).
Newfields has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408 |
2,023Lowest |
6,564Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Dunstable 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% |
22.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest 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% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest 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±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15k 145% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16kLowest 142% above U.S. |
| Dunstable and Newfields 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±$34kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% 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 | $9,020Lowest 189% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Newfields 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% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsfield and Newfields 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 | — | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Newfields School District | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.