Compare towns
Mansfield vs Berlin 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 renters (26.9% rent).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Grafton has the most affordable homes ($525k 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.
| Measure | Mansfield | Berlin | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,931Highest |
3,378Lowest |
19,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest 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%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.1% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest 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 |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$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±$28k 7% above MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$525,300±$37kLowest 7% below MA |
| Berlin and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,504±$169Lowest 15% below MA |
| Berlin and Mansfield 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 |
$7,116Lowest 19% above MA |
$7,117 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Grafton 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% MA: 10% |
6.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Grafton 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | Berlin-Boylston | Grafton |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | None in town | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.