Compare towns
Amesbury vs Mansfield vs Norton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amesbury has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Mansfield has the most expensive homes ($604k median).
Norton has the most homeowners (83.8%).
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 | Amesbury | Mansfield | Norton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403Lowest |
23,931Highest |
19,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Highest 9% above MA |
41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Amesbury and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Amesbury and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,554±$12kLowest about the MA average |
$125,273±$15kHighest 21% above MA |
$124,535±$11k 20% above MA |
| Mansfield and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32k 8% below MA |
$603,500±$28kHighest 7% above MA |
$501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Lowest 4% below MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA |
| Norton and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360Highest 23% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
$5,929Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.6%±8.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
33 min 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Mansfield and Norton 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 | #151 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA | #173 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Mansfield | Norton |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Mansfield High | Norton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
11.1Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| 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.