Compare towns
Dedham vs Freeport vs Mansfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
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.
| Measure | Dedham | Freeport | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
8,802Lowest |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
41.4±1.3Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mansfield and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Freeport and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$107,326±$19kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$125,273±$15k 55% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76kLowest 53% above U.S. |
$603,500±$28k 81% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,439±$123Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,803±$147 28% above U.S. |
| 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 154% above U.S. |
$5,042Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$7,226 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Freeport 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 | #4 of 133 in ME | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | RSU 05 | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Freeport High School | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.2Highest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.