Compare towns
Devens vs Mansfield vs Norton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Mansfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Norton has the most affordable homes ($501k 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 | Devens | Mansfield | Norton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
23,931Highest |
19,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Norton and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$124,535±$11kLowest 20% above MA |
| Devens and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96k about the MA average |
$603,500±$28kHighest 7% above MA |
$501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA |
| Mansfield and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Lowest 15% below MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA |
| Norton and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556Lowest 7% below MA |
$7,226Highest 21% above MA |
$5,929 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.6%±8.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
33 min 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Devens and Mansfield 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 | — | #60 of 282 in MA | #173 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Mansfield | Norton |
| High school in town | — | Mansfield High | Norton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.