What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).

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	Bolton
People
Population	23,931Highest	5,737Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.4±1.3Highest 4% above MA	41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA
	Mansfield and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Bolton 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%	15.7%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Bolton 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Mansfield and Bolton 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	$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,500±$28kLowest 7% above MA	$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,803±$147Highest about the MA average	$1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA
	Mansfield and Bolton 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
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%	12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Mansfield and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Highest MA: 10%	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 16 yrs newer than MA	1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 13% above MA	37 minHighest 26% above MA
Work from home	20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#60 of 282 in MA	#28 of 282 in MA
School district	Mansfield	Nashoba
High school in town	Mansfield High	Nashoba Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	12.0Highest
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.