Compare towns
Dunstable vs Topsfield vs West Newbury
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 affordable homes ($674k median).
Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
West Newbury has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
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 | West Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
6,564Highest |
4,591 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
49.5±3Highest 24% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.9Lowest 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% |
21.3%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and West Newbury 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% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
64.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and West Newbury 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 |
$179,500±$27kLowest 73% 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 |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$808,200±$47k 44% above MA |
| Topsfield and West Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,675±$674Highest 5% below MA |
| West Newbury and Dunstable 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 |
$9,240 54% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
80.4%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| West Newbury 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% |
1.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1983 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield and West Newbury 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 | #86 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Topsfield | Pentucket |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pentucket Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6 |
| 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.