What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has the shortest commute (29 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dedham	Mansfield
People
Population	25,237Highest	23,931Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA	41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.9Lowest 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%±2Highest MA: 17.9%	15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55%Highest MA: 47.3%	51.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	5.5%±1.3Lowest 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	$125,273±$15kLowest 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	$603,500±$28kLowest 7% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA	$1,803±$147Lowest 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	$7,226Lowest 21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%	38.2%±8.5Lowest 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%	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	20%±2.7 MA: 18.6%	20%±3.4 MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#119 of 282 in MA	#60 of 282 in MA
School district	Dedham	Mansfield
High school in town	Dedham High	Mansfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	11.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.