Compare towns
Dunstable vs Princeton vs Hamilton vs Harvard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunstable has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Princeton has the most affordable homes ($521k median).
Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Princeton | Hamilton | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
3,529 |
7,600Highest |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
46.1±7Highest 15% above MA |
43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
| Princeton 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 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Dunstable 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% |
20.9%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% MA: 47.3% |
59.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Hamilton 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 101% above MA |
$158,750±$46k 53% above MA |
$129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
| 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 20% above MA |
$520,500±$48kLowest 7% below MA |
$720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
| Hamilton and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020 51% above MA |
$6,633Lowest 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7 MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Princeton 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% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
94.3% MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #4 of 282 in MA | #59 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Wachusett | Hamilton-Wenham | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.8Highest |
11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.