Compare towns
Dunstable vs Springfield vs Worcester vs Nashua
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 highest household income ($209k).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Springfield | Worcester | Nashua |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
154,749 |
207,055Highest |
91,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Highest 7% above U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
33.9±0.5 13% below U.S. |
40±1.3 about the U.S. average |
| Dunstable and Nashua 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nashua and Dunstable 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% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$70,102±$2k 13% below U.S. |
$96,326±$5k 19% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$374,400±$7k 13% above U.S. |
$403,900±$11k 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$1,737±$41Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
$6,799 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Springfield 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% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±1.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dunstable and Nashua 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #67 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Springfield | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Nashua School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield Central High | South High Community | Nashua High School South |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Lowest |
14.6Highest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.