What stands out worked out from the figures below

Douglas has the most kids (21.2% under 18).

Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).

Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Douglas	Mansfield
People
Population	9,207Lowest	25,358Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S.	21.2±0.2Lowest 46% below U.S.
Kids under 18	21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%	9.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Douglas and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	57.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	57%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S.	$72,393±$12kLowest 10% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S.	$335,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,503±$697Lowest 6% above U.S.	$1,602±$104Highest 13% above U.S.
	Mansfield and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,338Highest 103% above U.S.	$5,727Lowest 84% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	76%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	21.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	57.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.
Work from home	20.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	28.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mansfield and Douglas 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	#177 of 282 in MA	#45 of 149 in CT
School district	Douglas	Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District
High school in town	Douglas High School	E. O. Smith High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.2Lowest	11.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.