Compare towns
Princeton vs Harvard vs Upton 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%).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Dunstable has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
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 | Princeton | Harvard | Upton | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,529 |
6,927 |
8,189Highest |
3,408Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.1±7 15% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
| Upton and Princeton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Dunstable 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Princeton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.4% MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest 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% |
2.4%±1.3 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±$46k 53% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$155,508±$33kLowest 50% 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 |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$674,000±$30k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$948±$599 46% 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 |
$8,376 40% 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% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%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 |
1981 17 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 |
35 min 22% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.5%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Harvard | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | The Bromfield High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.