Compare towns
Topsfield vs Stow 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).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Dunstable has the most homeowners (96.5%).
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 | Topsfield | Stow | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,624Lowest |
7,165Highest |
3,408 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±10.9 6% above MA |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
| Stow 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% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Stow 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.8% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Stow 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 |
$185,809±$22kLowest 79% 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 |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
$674,000±$30kLowest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $994±$841Lowest 44% below MA |
$1,782±$126Highest about the MA average |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
| Stow and Dunstable 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,020Lowest 51% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±47.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 18% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #172 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Nashoba | 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.