Compare towns
Dunstable vs Topsfield vs Tyngsborough
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%).
Tyngsborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Tyngsborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
6,564 |
12,550Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
42.2±1.8Highest 6% above MA |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| 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%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Tyngsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Tyngsborough and Dunstable 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 |
$129,348±$18kLowest 24% 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 |
$552,500±$34kLowest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,986±$404Highest 13% above MA |
| Tyngsborough 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 |
$7,426Lowest 24% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.2%±22.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Tyngsborough and Dunstable 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%Highest MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.6%±5.6Lowest 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 | #174 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Topsfield | Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical · Tyngsborough |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Gr Lowell Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
| 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.