Compare towns
Dunstable vs Topsfield vs Pepperell
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 most homeowners (96.5%).
Topsfield has the most people working from home (29.4%).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k 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 | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
6,564 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
42.4±3.3Highest 6% above MA |
| Pepperell and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Dunstable 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% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Pepperell 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% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell 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 |
$195,718±$16k 88% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% 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 |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637Highest 25% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
| Dunstable and Pepperell 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 |
$6,698Lowest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell 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% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.4% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield 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 | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Topsfield | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.