Compare towns
Dunstable vs Sutton 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 highest household income ($209k).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($837k median).
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 | Sutton | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408 |
9,452Highest |
2,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
42.4±10.9 6% above MA |
| Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Topsfield 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Sutton 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 |
$147,125±$25kLowest 42% 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±$30k 20% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$836,600±$60kHighest 49% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637Highest 25% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$994±$841Lowest 44% below MA |
| Dunstable and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020 51% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
42.4%±47.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Sutton 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% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
24 minLowest 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Sutton | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.