Compare towns
Dunstable vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Nashua has the most renters (44.2% rent).
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 | Thompson | Nashua |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
9,337 |
91,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 7% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
40±1.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Nashua 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable and Nashua 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. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$96,326±$5k 19% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$403,900±$11k 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,737±$41Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Nashua and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,799 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Thompson 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #67 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Thompson School District | Nashua School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Nashua High School South |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.