Compare towns
Dunstable vs Windham 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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Paxton has the most affordable homes ($472k 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 | Windham | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
16,038Highest |
5,002 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 7% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.8±3.3Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Paxton 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Dunstable 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% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Paxton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$134,083±$8kLowest 66% above U.S. |
| Dunstable and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30k 103% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$472,300±$29kLowest 42% above U.S. |
| Windham and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,386±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020 189% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,129Lowest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Windham 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% |
2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Paxton and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Windham School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.