Compare towns
Dunstable vs Wilton vs Paxton
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).
Wilton has the most affordable homes ($382k median).
Paxton has the most people working from home (25.5%).
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 | Wilton | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
3,960 |
5,002Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.8±5.2Highest 20% above U.S. |
41.8±3.3 7% above U.S. |
| Wilton and Paxton 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% |
13.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Paxton 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% |
22%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilton and Paxton 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% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$114,349±$21kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$134,083±$8k 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$381,500±$23kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$472,300±$29k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,382±$70 about the U.S. average |
$1,386±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
| Paxton and Wilton 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. |
$7,612 144% above U.S. |
$7,129Lowest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.1%±39.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Wilton 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% |
3.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Paxton 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 | #54 of 120 in NH | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.