Compare towns
Rupert vs Dunstable vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rupert has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Waltham has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
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 | Rupert | Dunstable | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 676 |
3,408Highest |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7 49% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 42.3%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waltham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,229±$36kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$97,500±$14k 21% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,500±$63k 9% above U.S. |
$674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$329,700±$51kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,325±$637Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,096±$113Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Dunstable and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594Lowest 47% above U.S. |
$9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
$5,714 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±58.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waltham 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 | — | #4 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Groton-Dunstable | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.