Compare towns
Mansfield vs Boylston 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 kids (22.4% under 18).
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k 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 | Boylston | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,931 |
4,948Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Boylston and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Dedham 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% |
22%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Boylston and Dedham 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% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Boylston and Dedham 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 |
$578,600±$47kLowest about the MA average |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$2,032±$350 15% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Dedham and Boylston 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 |
$7,266 21% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Boylston 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% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Boylston and Mansfield 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 | #72 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | Berlin-Boylston | Dedham |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | Tahanto Regional High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
11.1Highest |
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.