Compare towns
Dedham vs Mansfield vs Oakham
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).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Oakham has the most affordable homes ($420k median).
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 | Mansfield | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
23,931 |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest 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% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Oakham 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% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest 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±$15k 21% above MA |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
| 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±$28k 7% above MA |
$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
| 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 |
$7,226 21% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest 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 | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Mansfield High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
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.