Compare towns
Dunstable vs Wareham vs Paxton vs Groton
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).
Wareham has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Groton has the most kids (28.3% under 18).
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 | Wareham | Paxton | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
23,302Highest |
5,002 |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
41.8±3.3 4% above MA |
41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.4%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton 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% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.4%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.7% MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$134,083±$8k 29% above MA |
$192,958±$27k 86% above MA |
| Dunstable and Groton 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 |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$472,300±$29k 16% below MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
| Groton and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,386±$88 21% below MA |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
| Wareham and Groton 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 |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$7,129 19% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17 MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Wareham 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% |
6.7%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4% MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.8% MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 23 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Groton and Paxton 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | #219 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Wareham | Wachusett | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | Wareham Senior High | None in town | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6Lowest |
— | 13.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.