Compare towns
Dunstable vs Townsend vs Harvard 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Townsend | Harvard | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
9,100 |
6,927 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
| Harvard and Pepperell 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% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Harvard 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% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest 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±$23k 101% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
| Harvard and Dunstable 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 |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Townsend 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 |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #4 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | North Middlesex | Harvard | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | The Bromfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
11.0Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.