Compare towns
Pepperell vs Topsfield vs Dunstable
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
Topsfield has the most people working from home (29.4%).
Dunstable has the most homeowners (96.5%).
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 | Pepperell | Topsfield | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
6,564 |
3,408Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Highest 6% above MA |
42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
| Pepperell and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
$195,718±$16k 88% above MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
| Dunstable and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$674,000±$30k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,325±$637Highest 25% below MA |
| Dunstable and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698Lowest 12% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,020 51% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4% MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Topsfield | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.