Compare towns
Dunstable vs Pepperell vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Pepperell has the most renters (15.7% rent).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
11,663Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
| Sturbridge 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%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Sturbridge 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% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest 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±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637Highest 25% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% 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 |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 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%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Dunstable and Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | North Middlesex | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.7 |
| 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.