Compare towns
Dunstable vs Wellesley vs Princeton
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%).
Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k median).
Princeton has the most affordable homes ($521k 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 | Wellesley | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
30,347Highest |
3,529 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
46.1±7Highest 15% above MA |
| Princeton and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Wellesley 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% |
15.5%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% MA: 47.3% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23k 101% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$158,750±$46kLowest 53% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30k 20% above MA |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$520,500±$48kLowest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020 51% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,633Lowest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
44.1%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton 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% |
4% MA: 10% |
4.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Wellesley and Princeton 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 | #6 of 282 in MA | #59 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | — | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.