Compare towns
Dunstable vs Wenham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Wenham has the most expensive homes ($885k median).
Princeton has the most affordable homes ($521k median).
Wenham is a college town. 27.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Wenham | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
4,929Highest |
3,529 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
29.3±9.3Lowest 27% 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%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Princeton and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
27.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$194,781±$33k 87% above MA |
$158,750±$46kLowest 53% above MA |
| Dunstable and Wenham 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 |
$885,400±$48kHighest 58% above MA |
$520,500±$48kLowest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637Highest 25% below MA |
— | $897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
| Dunstable and Princeton 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 |
$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% |
43.3%±20.8Lowest 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
4.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Princeton and Wenham 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 | #74 of 282 in MA | #59 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Hamilton-Wenham | 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 |
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.