Compare towns
Dunstable vs Pepperell vs Windsor Locks vs Topsfield
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 most homeowners (96.5%).
Pepperell has the oldest population (median age 42.4).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Topsfield has the most people working from home (29.4%).
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 | Windsor Locks | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
11,663 |
12,579Highest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 7% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Topsfield 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% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Dunstable 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% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest 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% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable and Windsor Locks 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. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$195,718±$16k 142% above U.S. |
| Dunstable and Topsfield 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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Dunstable 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% 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% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsfield 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | North Middlesex | Windsor Locks School District | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.