Compare towns

Tyngsborough vs Dunstable vs North Reading

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Tyngsborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
North Reading has the most people working from home (26.1%).

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.

MeasureTyngsboroughDunstableNorth Reading
People
Population
12,550
3,408Lowest
15,765Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+5.6%
MA: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
39.4±2.9Lowest
about the MA average
41.5±2.4
4% above MA
43±2.8Highest
8% above MA
North Reading and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.6%±4.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
22.4%±4.3
MA: 19.4%
22.3%±2.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Tyngsborough and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.7%±2.3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
15%±2.6
MA: 17.9%
16.7%±2Highest
MA: 17.9%
North Reading and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
51.8%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
62.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
56.4%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.1%±2.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
7.1%±2.5
MA: 7.9%
4.2%±1.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Tyngsborough and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$129,348±$18kLowest
24% above MA
$208,512±$23kHighest
101% above MA
$147,768±$25k
42% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$552,500±$34kLowest
about the MA average
$674,000±$30k
20% above MA
$710,500±$24kHighest
26% above MA
North Reading and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,986±$404
13% above MA
$1,325±$637Lowest
25% below MA
$2,259±$356Highest
28% above MA
North Reading and Tyngsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,426Lowest
24% above MA
$9,020
51% above MA
$9,693Highest
62% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
72.2%±22.7
MA: 51.8%
60%±77.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
75.5%±25.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
North Reading and Tyngsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.6%Highest
MA: 10%
0.5%Lowest
MA: 10%
2.7%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.2%
MA: 62.5%
96.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
84.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
23 yrs newer than MA
1987Highest
23 yrs newer than MA
1975Lowest
11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
17% below MA
34 minHighest
18% above MA
34 min
15% above MA
Work from home
18.6%±5.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
20%±3.9
MA: 18.6%
26.1%±4.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
North Reading 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 #174 of 282 in MA #4 of 282 in MA #33 of 282 in MA
School district Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical · Tyngsborough Groton-Dunstable North Reading
High school in town Gr Lowell Regional Vocational Technical None in town North Reading High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2Highest
—
10.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.