Compare towns
Topsfield vs Princeton vs Dunstable
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Princeton has the most people working from home (29.5%).
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 | Topsfield | Princeton | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,624Lowest |
3,529Highest |
3,408 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±10.9 6% above MA |
46.1±7Highest 15% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
| Princeton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±4.6 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+ | 21.5%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±3 MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $191,146±$21k 84% above MA |
$158,750±$46kLowest 53% above MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
| Dunstable and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $836,600±$60kHighest 49% above MA |
$520,500±$48kLowest 7% below MA |
$674,000±$30k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $994±$841 44% below MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,325±$637Highest 25% below MA |
| Dunstable and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,633Lowest 11% above MA |
$9,020 51% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±47.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.3% MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 18% below MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8Highest 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | #59 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Wachusett | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school 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.