Compare towns

Bourne 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

Bourne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).

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.

MeasureBourneDedhamMansfield
People
Population
20,323Lowest
25,237Highest
23,931
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+2.9%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
52±1.8Highest
30% above MA
44.6±1.6
12% above MA
41.4±1.3Lowest
4% above MA
Kids under 18
14.7%±2.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
18.6%±1.9
MA: 19.4%
22.4%±2.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
Mansfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.8%±3.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
21.9%±2
MA: 17.9%
15.4%±2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
55%Highest
MA: 47.3%
51.1%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.6%±1.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1
MA: 7.9%
5.5%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Bourne and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,058±$7kLowest
12% below MA
$128,955±$10kHighest
24% above MA
$125,273±$15k
21% above MA
Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$575,600±$28kLowest
about the MA average
$661,800±$16kHighest
18% above MA
$603,500±$28k
7% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,379±$300Lowest
22% below MA
$2,042±$182Highest
16% above MA
$1,803±$147
about the MA average
Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,485Lowest
25% below MA
$7,918Highest
32% above MA
$7,226
21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.8%±5.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±10
MA: 51.8%
38.2%±8.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Bourne and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.2%Highest
MA: 10%
5.6%
MA: 10%
4.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.8%Highest
MA: 62.5%
73.4%
MA: 62.5%
73.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
11 yrs newer than MA
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
11% below MA
29 min
about the MA average
33 minHighest
13% above MA
Work from home
14.9%±3.1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
20%±2.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
20%±3.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #206 of 282 in MA #119 of 282 in MA #60 of 282 in MA
School district Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical Dedham Mansfield
High school in town Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical Dedham High Mansfield High
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Lowest
10.4
11.1Highest
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.