Compare towns
Princeton vs Harvard vs Dunstable
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Princeton has the most affordable homes ($521k median).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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.
| Measure | Princeton | Harvard | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,529 |
6,927Highest |
3,408Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.1±7Highest 15% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
| Princeton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Princeton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,750±$46kLowest 53% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$208,512±$23k 101% above MA |
| Harvard and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $520,500±$48kLowest 7% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$674,000±$30k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$1,325±$637Highest 25% below MA |
| Dunstable and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,633Lowest 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,020 51% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.8%±46.7 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% MA: 10% |
4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 25% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.5%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #59 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Harvard | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.