Compare towns
Dunstable vs Pepperell vs Reading vs Harvard
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Pepperell has the most renters (15.7% rent).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Reading | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408 |
11,663Highest |
699Lowest |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
| Reading and Harvard 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
62% 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% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 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±$23k 158% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| 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 103% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
| Dunstable and Harvard 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. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Reading 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #4 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA | — | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | North Middlesex | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.