Compare towns
Dedham vs Mansfield vs Webster
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).
Mansfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k 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 | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
23,931 |
2,227Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
41.4±1.3Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Webster 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% |
22.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Mansfield 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% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Webster 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% |
30.7%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% |
3%±1.4Lowest 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. |
$107,171±$14kLowest 33% 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. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,803±$147 28% above U.S. |
$1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. 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 154% above U.S. |
$7,226 132% above U.S. |
$6,021Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Webster 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest 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 | Merrimack Valley School District |
| 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 |
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.