Compare towns
Ayer 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
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Ayer | Mansfield | Norton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
23,931Highest |
19,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.4±1.3Highest 4% above MA |
39.6±1.2 about the MA average |
| Mansfield and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Norton and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kLowest 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 | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$603,500±$28kHighest 7% above MA |
$501,400±$27k 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% 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 | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$7,226Highest 21% above MA |
$5,929 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.6%±8.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
33 minLowest 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Mansfield 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA | #173 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Mansfield | Norton |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Mansfield High | Norton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.1 |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.