Compare towns
Acton vs Dedham vs Mansfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Mansfield has the most affordable homes ($604k 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 | Acton | Dedham | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
25,237Highest |
23,931Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Dedham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$125,273±$15kLowest 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$603,500±$28kLowest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Dedham and Acton 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 |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$7,226Lowest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Dedham | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Dedham High | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.