Compare towns
Pelham vs Dunstable vs Shutesbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Dunstable has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Shutesbury has the most affordable homes ($376k 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 | Pelham | Dunstable | Shutesbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,335Lowest |
3,408Highest |
1,910 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±8.4 13% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
50.2±4.5Highest 26% above MA |
| Shutesbury and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.2%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham and Shutesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.8% MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3 MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Shutesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$24kLowest 9% above MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$123,333±$12k 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,600±$33k 20% below MA |
$674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
$376,100±$21kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,205±$560Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,721±$111Highest about the MA average |
| Shutesbury and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,472 25% above MA |
$9,020Highest 51% above MA |
$6,642Lowest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±35.2 MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
33 min 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±7.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Pelham and Shutesbury 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 | — |
| School district | Pelham | Groton-Dunstable | Shutesbury |
| 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 |
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.