Compare towns
Dunstable vs Norton vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunstable has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Norton has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k 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 | Norton | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
19,240Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±3.3Highest 6% above MA |
| Pepperell and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell 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% |
17.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.8% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$124,535±$11k 20% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
$501,400±$27k 11% below MA |
$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Norton and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020Highest 51% above MA |
$5,929Lowest about the MA average |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.6%±8.9 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Norton 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% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
33 minLowest 12% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dunstable and Norton 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 | #173 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Norton | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Norton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.