Compare towns
Dunstable vs Stratham 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 highest household income ($209k).
Stratham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Stratham | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
7,754Highest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Topsfield and Stratham 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% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Stratham 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% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsfield and Stratham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable and Stratham 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. |
$151,998±$20kLowest 88% 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. |
$655,400±$36kLowest 97% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020Lowest 189% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Dunstable 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% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsfield and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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.