Compare towns
Dedham vs Douglas vs Mansfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
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 | Dedham | Douglas | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
9,207Lowest |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Dedham and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Lowest 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 | $128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$125,273±$15kLowest 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below 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 | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Douglas | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Douglas High School | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
7.2Lowest |
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.