What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).

Mansfield has the most expensive homes ($604k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lunenburg	Mansfield
People
Population	11,902Lowest	23,931Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±2.1Highest 8% above MA	41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA
	Lunenburg and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Mansfield and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.9%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9%	15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Lunenburg and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44%Lowest MA: 47.3%	51.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Mansfield and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,828±$11kLowest 9% above MA	$125,273±$15kHighest 21% above MA
	Mansfield and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,900±$24kLowest 17% below MA	$603,500±$28kHighest 7% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA	$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average
	Lunenburg and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,401Lowest 7% above MA	$7,226Highest 21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±13.5Highest MA: 51.8%	38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lunenburg and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Lowest MA: 10%	4.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%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	36 minHighest 24% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	15.8%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Mansfield and Lunenburg 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	#87 of 282 in MA	#60 of 282 in MA
School district	Lunenburg	Mansfield
High school in town	Lunenburg High	Mansfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.