Compare towns
Dunstable vs Rye 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 affordable homes ($674k median).
Rye has the oldest population (median age 55.1).
Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Rye | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
5,611 |
6,564Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%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% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable and Topsfield 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. |
$140,655±$39kLowest 74% above U.S. |
$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±$30kLowest 103% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40k 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rye 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. |
$7,519Lowest 141% 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% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Rye 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Topsfield 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Rye School District | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.