What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norfolk has the most people working from home (32.6%).

Dunstable has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Norfolk	Dunstable
People
Population	11,673Highest	3,408Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.6±1.3Highest 4% above MA	41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA
	Norfolk and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%	22.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Norfolk and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	15%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9%
	Dunstable and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	62.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$200,720±$22kLowest 93% above MA	$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA
	Dunstable and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$725,200±$34kHighest 29% above MA	$674,000±$30kLowest 20% above MA
	Norfolk and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,019±$598Highest 15% above MA	$1,325±$637Lowest 25% below MA
	Norfolk and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,651Highest 61% above MA	$9,020Lowest 51% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±16Lowest MA: 51.8%	60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dunstable and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.2%Highest MA: 10%	0.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	96.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Lowest 20 yrs newer than MA	1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	34 minLowest 18% above MA
Work from home	32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6%	20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#123 of 282 in MA	#4 of 282 in MA
School district	King Philip · Millis	Groton-Dunstable
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.