What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).

Mansfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

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	Deerfield	Mansfield
People
Population	5,158Lowest	23,931Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA	41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA
Kids under 18	13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	22.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9%	15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	51.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9%	5.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Deerfield and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,136±$14kLowest about the MA average	$125,273±$15kHighest 21% above MA
	Mansfield and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA	$603,500±$28kHighest 7% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA	$1,803±$147Highest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,824Lowest about the MA average	$7,226Highest 21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	38.2%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Mansfield and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest MA: 10%	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 40% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	17.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Mansfield and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#156 of 282 in MA	#60 of 282 in MA
School district	Deerfield · Frontier	Mansfield
High school in town	Frontier Regional	Mansfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1	11.1
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.