Compare towns
Mansfield vs Canton 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).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Canton | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,931 |
24,748Highest |
19,902Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
42.6±2.3Highest 7% above MA |
41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Canton and Mansfield 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% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Canton and Grafton 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% |
18.8%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Canton and Grafton 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% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1Lowest 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±$15kLowest 21% above MA |
$143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
$131,484±$11k 26% above MA |
| Canton and Grafton 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 |
$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA |
$525,300±$37kLowest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,504±$169Lowest 15% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,226Highest 21% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
$7,117 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Canton 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
6.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Canton 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Grafton |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | Canton High | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
13.1Highest |
12.9 |
| 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.