What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mansfield has the most expensive homes ($604k median).

Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).

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	Mansfield	Auburn
People
Population	23,931Highest	16,970Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA	44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA
Kids under 18	22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	21%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Mansfield and Auburn 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%	20.9%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	45.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Mansfield and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,273±$15kHighest 21% above MA	$116,711±$10kLowest 12% above MA
	Mansfield and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,500±$28kHighest 7% above MA	$400,000±$16kLowest 29% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,803±$147Highest about the MA average	$1,467±$155Lowest 17% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,226Highest 21% above MA	$5,289Lowest 12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.4%±10.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Auburn and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%	5.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	79.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	26 minLowest 12% below MA
Work from home	20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6%	14.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#60 of 282 in MA	#106 of 282 in MA
School district	Mansfield	Auburn
High school in town	Mansfield High	Auburn Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	12.1Highest
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.