Compare towns
Dunstable vs Topsfield vs Paxton
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).
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($837k median).
Paxton has the most affordable homes ($472k 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 | Topsfield | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408 |
2,624Lowest |
5,002Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
42.4±10.9Highest 6% above MA |
41.8±3.3 4% above MA |
| Topsfield and Paxton 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%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
17.4%±3.6Lowest 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% |
18.4%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Paxton 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% |
66.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$191,146±$21k 84% above MA |
$134,083±$8kLowest 29% 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 |
$836,600±$60kHighest 49% above MA |
$472,300±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$994±$841Lowest 44% below MA |
$1,386±$88Highest 21% below MA |
| Paxton and Dunstable 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,129Lowest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.4%±47.4 MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest 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% |
1.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
24 minLowest 18% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
19.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Paxton 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | — | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.