Compare towns
Dunstable vs Plainville vs Putnam
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 expensive homes ($674k median).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Plainville | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
17,551Highest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Putnam 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% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Putnam 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% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Putnam 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable and Plainville 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. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Dunstable and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Plainville 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% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #4 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainville High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.