Dunstable vs Tyngsborough
marks the Massachusetts median on each scale. The better of the two is picked out where the gap is big enough to call; where neither is, they are level.
You are paying about $100k more for a 4BR in Dunstable, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $100k for one tier of schooling.
On tax, look past the rate: Tyngsborough works out roughly $1,600 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose Dunstable if you want the stronger schools of the two.
All Dunstable numbers →Choose Tyngsborough if you want the lower price, or the commute matters most.
All Tyngsborough numbers →Side by side
Some rows have no better. Town character describes a place rather than ranking it, and per-pupil spending tracks need rather than results, so neither is picked out.
SchoolsDunstable ahead on 4 of 10
| Dunstable | Tyngsborough | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | strong schoolsT2 | solid schoolsT3 |
| MCAS achievement | 82nd | 43rd |
| Student growth | 54th | 54th |
| Graduation rate | 95.3% | 97.1% |
| Niche district rank | 40th of 236 | 126th of 236 |
| SchoolDigger rank | 37th of 361 | 197th of 361 |
| State accountability | Substantial progress toward targets | Substantial progress toward targets |
| Spending per pupil | $22,031 | $20,064 |
| Schools in the district | 4 | 2 |
| Private schools within 12 mi | 3 | 3 |
What a home costsTyngsborough ahead on 5 of 7
| Dunstable | Tyngsborough | |
|---|---|---|
| 4BR house | $800kT2 | $700kT2 |
| 3BR townhouse | $610k | $540k |
| 2BR condo | $450k | $400k |
| 3BR home | $726k | $693k |
| 3BR rent | $3,090/mo | $2,973/mo |
| Income needed for the 4BR | $219k | $192k |
| 10-year price growth | 5.2% a year | 6.3% a year |
What you pay the townTyngsborough ahead on 1 of 4
| Dunstable | Tyngsborough | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | $13.39T3 | $12.99T3 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$10,700 | ≈$9,100 |
| Town spending per resident | $3,823 | $4,284 |
| Share of budget on schools | 65% | 49% |
Getting to workLevel across all 3
| Dunstable | Tyngsborough | |
|---|---|---|
| Commute to Boston | 70 minT4 | 66 minT4 |
| MBTA rail | No MBTA rail | No MBTA rail |
| Miles from downtown | 32 mi | 29 mi |
Before kindergartenTyngsborough ahead on 3 of 4
| Dunstable | Tyngsborough | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed child care programs | 2 | 13 |
| Child care places | 24 | 468 |
| Centers vs family programs | 1 centers | 5 centers |
| Infant places in centers | 0 | 101 |
What the place is likeDescribes the two, does not rank them
| Dunstable | Tyngsborough | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,358 | 12,380 |
| Energy | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Compact center | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Family amenities | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Culture | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Gathering places | 6/10 | 6/10 |
The tax bill is each town’s own rate on its own median 4BR, so a lower rate does not always mean a lower bill. School tiers are editorial, shown beside the state’s own MCAS figures rather than derived from them.
Prices calibrated to Zillow ZHVI and Redfin · FY2026 residential tax rates · rail leg from the MBTA timetable, drive modeled · rents are HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs · reviewed · methodology. Never uses demographics as an input.
