Compare towns
Princeton vs Mendon 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 people working from home (29.5%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
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 | Mendon | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,529 |
6,325Highest |
3,408Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.1±7Highest 15% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
| Princeton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Princeton and Dunstable 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% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Mendon 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 |
$132,256±$33kLowest 27% above MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
| Dunstable and Princeton 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 |
$616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
$674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
| Dunstable and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
| Mendon and Dunstable 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 |
$7,213 20% above MA |
$9,020Highest 51% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.8%±46.7 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon 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% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1985 21 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 25% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.5%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Princeton 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 | #59 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Mendon-Upton | 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.