Compare towns
Dunstable vs Stow vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunstable has the most homeowners (96.5%).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Topsfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Stow | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408 |
7,165Highest |
2,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
42.4±10.9 6% above MA |
| Stow and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Stow 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Stow 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 101% above MA |
$185,809±$22kLowest 79% above MA |
$191,146±$21k 84% above MA |
| 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 20% above MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
$836,600±$60kHighest 49% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,782±$126Highest about the MA average |
$994±$841Lowest 44% below MA |
| Stow and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020Lowest 51% 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%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
42.4%±47.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Stow 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% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
24 minLowest 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #4 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.