Compare towns
Dedham vs Mansfield vs Springfield
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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($384k 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 | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
23,931 |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
41.4±1.3Lowest 6% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Springfield 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest 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. |
$125,273±$15k 55% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19kLowest 25% 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. |
$603,500±$28k 81% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,803±$147 28% above U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below 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. |
$7,226 132% above U.S. |
$5,946Lowest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 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.