Compare towns
Dunstable vs Plainfield vs Harvard vs Groton
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%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Groton has the most kids (28.3% under 18).
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 | Plainfield | Harvard | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408 |
1,314Lowest |
6,927 |
11,390Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 7% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton 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% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Groton 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% |
48.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable and Groton 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. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27k 139% 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. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$743,400±$46k 123% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,458±$335Highest 3% above U.S. |
| Groton 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. |
$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Harvard 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% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #4 of 282 in MA | — | #12 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | — | Harvard | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | — | The Bromfield High School | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.0Lowest |
13.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.