Compare towns
Dunstable vs Reading vs Paxton
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%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Paxton has the most affordable homes ($472k median).
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 | Reading | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
25,612Highest |
5,002 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
41.8±3.3 4% above MA |
| Reading and Paxton 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.4%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Paxton 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$134,083±$8kLowest 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30k 20% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$472,300±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,386±$88 21% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020 51% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$7,129Lowest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Reading 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% |
3.2%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Paxton 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | — | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.