Compare towns
Dunstable vs Windsor Locks vs Groton 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).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Groton has the most kids (28.3% under 18).
Paxton has the oldest population (median age 41.8).
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 | Windsor Locks | Groton | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
12,579Highest |
11,390 |
5,002 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 7% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7Lowest 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% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton 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% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Paxton and Windsor Locks 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% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$192,958±$27k 139% above U.S. |
$134,083±$8k 66% above U.S. |
| Dunstable and Groton 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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$472,300±$29k 42% above U.S. |
| Groton 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. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,458±$335Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,386±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Groton and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020 189% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,129 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Paxton 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #39 of 282 in MA | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Windsor Locks School District | Groton-Dunstable | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Groton Dunstable Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
13.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.