Compare towns
Dunstable vs Paxton vs Harvard 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%).
Paxton has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Paxton | Harvard | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
5,002 |
6,927 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
41.8±3.3 4% above MA |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
| Harvard and Pepperell 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% |
17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Harvard 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% |
18.4%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Paxton and Pepperell 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% |
54.7% MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23k 101% above MA |
$134,083±$8k 29% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
| 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 20% above MA |
$472,300±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,386±$88Highest 21% below MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Paxton 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 |
$7,129 19% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,698Lowest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Dunstable 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% |
1.4% MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #4 of 282 in MA | #219 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Wachusett | Harvard | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.