Compare towns
Princeton vs Putnam vs Dunstable
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Princeton has the most people working from home (29.5%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Putnam | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,529 |
9,292Highest |
3,408Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.1±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Princeton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Princeton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable and Putnam 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 97% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
| 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±$48k 56% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $897±$852Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,325±$637Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Dunstable and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,633 113% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.8%±46.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Princeton and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.5%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Putnam School District | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.