Compare towns

Dunstable vs Pepperell vs Nashua

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).
Pepperell has the oldest population (median age 42.4).
Nashua has the most renters (44.2% 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.

MeasureDunstablePepperellNashua
People
Population
3,408Lowest
11,663
91,294Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2.4
7% above U.S.
42.4±3.3Highest
9% above U.S.
40±1.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
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
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.9%±1
U.S.: 17.2%
Pepperell and Nashua 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
U.S.: 35.7%
43.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
41.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.1%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dunstable and Pepperell 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.
$124,073±$12k
54% above U.S.
$96,326±$5kLowest
19% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$674,000±$30kHighest
103% above U.S.
$482,100±$14k
45% above U.S.
$403,900±$11kLowest
21% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,325±$637
6% below U.S.
$1,295±$238Lowest
8% below U.S.
$1,737±$41Highest
23% above U.S.
Nashua and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,020Highest
189% above U.S.
$6,698Lowest
115% above U.S.
$6,799
118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
60%±77.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.1%±16.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.8%±4.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Dunstable and Nashua 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%
8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
55.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
34 min
28% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
20%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dunstable and Pepperell 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 #153 of 282 in MA #67 of 120 in NH
School district Groton-Dunstable North Middlesex Nashua School District
High school in town None in town None in town Nashua High School South
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.8
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.