Compare towns
Dunstable vs Pepperell vs Plainfield
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%).
Pepperell has the most renters (15.7% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k 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 | Pepperell | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408 |
11,663Highest |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
| Plainfield 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% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 101% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637Highest 25% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
| Dunstable and Pepperell 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 |
$6,698 12% above MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell 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% |
8% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
34 minLowest 16% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.