Compare towns
Dunstable vs West Bath 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
West Bath has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | West Bath | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408 |
1,863Lowest |
3,529Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
46.1±7 19% above U.S. |
| West Bath 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% |
14.7%±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% |
29.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable and West Bath 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. |
$103,333±$27kLowest 28% above 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. |
$422,800±$102kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$520,500±$48k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,112±$327 21% below U.S. |
$897±$852Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Dunstable and West Bath 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. |
$3,516Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$6,633 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.8%±46.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9Lowest 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 | West Bath Public Schools | 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.