Compare towns
Dedham vs Hatfield 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 most expensive homes ($662k median).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Hatfield | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
3,325Lowest |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Hatfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest 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+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest 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±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below 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 | $661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% 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 |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Hatfield | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Smith Academy | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
6.1Lowest |
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.