Compare towns
Dunstable vs Paxton vs Woonsocket vs Groton
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).
Paxton has the oldest population (median age 41.8).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Groton has the most kids (28.3% under 18).
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 | Woonsocket | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
5,002 |
43,521Highest |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 7% above U.S. |
41.8±3.3Highest 7% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
| Paxton 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Woonsocket 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% |
18.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Paxton and Groton 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% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$134,083±$8k 66% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$192,958±$27k 139% above U.S. |
| Dunstable and Groton 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. |
$472,300±$29k 42% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Groton and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,386±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,458±$335Highest 3% above U.S. |
| Groton and Paxton 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. |
$7,129 129% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% 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% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Woonsocket 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% |
1.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Paxton 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 | #219 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Wachusett | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Woonsocket High School | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 15.2Highest |
13.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.