Compare towns
Dunstable vs Sterling 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 homeowners (96.5%).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Topsfield has the most people working from home (29.4%).
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 | Sterling | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
3,629 |
6,564Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 7% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.2±1.8Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Topsfield and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Sterling 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%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%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% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest 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. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% 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±$30k 103% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637Highest 6% below U.S. |
— | $1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Dunstable and Topsfield 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. |
$4,551Lowest 46% 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% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Topsfield 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% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsfield and Dunstable 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Sterling School District | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.