Compare towns
Dunstable vs Wells vs Princeton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Princeton has the most people working from home (29.5%).
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 | Wells | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408 |
1,148Lowest |
3,529Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
46.1±7 19% above U.S. |
| Wells and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Princeton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable and Wells 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 158% above U.S. |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$158,750±$46k 97% above U.S. |
| Dunstable and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$243,000±$42kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$520,500±$48k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
$897±$852Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Dunstable and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$6,633 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.8%±46.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Princeton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 30% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
37 min 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.5%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Princeton 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 | — | #59 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.