What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dunstable has the most affordable homes ($674k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dunstable	Topsfield
People
Population	3,408Highest	2,624Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA	42.4±10.9Highest 6% above MA
	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%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4%	20.6%±5.3Lowest 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%	21.5%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Topsfield and Dunstable 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%	66.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9%	3.6%±3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	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 101% above MA	$191,146±$21kLowest 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	$836,600±$60kHighest 49% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,325±$637Highest 25% below MA	$994±$841Lowest 44% below MA
	Dunstable and Topsfield 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
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8%	42.4%±47.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	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 MA: 10%	4.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	82%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	24 minLowest 18% below MA
Work from home	20%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6%	19.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Dunstable and Topsfield 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	#172 of 282 in MA
School district	Groton-Dunstable	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.