Compare towns
Mansfield vs Acton vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering MansfieldNorton
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mansfield has the most affordable homes ($604k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Mansfield | Acton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,931Lowest |
24,155 |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Dedham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $125,273±$15kLowest 21% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$28kLowest 7% above MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Dedham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,226Lowest 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | Acton-Boxborough | Dedham |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
13.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.