Compare towns
Mansfield vs Ayer vs Grafton
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 expensive homes ($604k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Grafton has the highest household income ($131k).
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 | Ayer | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,931Highest |
8,645Lowest |
19,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3Highest 4% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.1±1.6 about the MA average |
| Mansfield and Grafton 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% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Grafton and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±2 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Grafton and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.1% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Grafton 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±$15k 21% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$131,484±$11kHighest 26% above MA |
| Grafton and Mansfield 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 |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$525,300±$37k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147Highest about the MA average |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,504±$169 15% below MA |
| Mansfield and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,226Highest 21% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$7,117 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±2.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Grafton and Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | Ayer Shirley School District | Grafton |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.5 |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.