Compare towns
Dunstable vs Norton 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 homeowners (96.5%).
Norton has the most affordable homes ($501k median).
Topsfield has the most people working from home (29.4%).
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 | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
19,240Highest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
42.2±1.8Highest 6% above MA |
| Topsfield and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Dunstable 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% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield 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% MA: 47.3% |
45.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$124,535±$11kLowest 20% above MA |
$195,718±$16k 88% above MA |
| Dunstable and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30k 20% above MA |
$501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% 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 | $9,020 51% above MA |
$5,929Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.6%±8.9 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest 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% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
33 min 12% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield 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 | #173 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Norton | Topsfield |
| 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.