What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).

Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).

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	Dedham
People
Population	23,931Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA	44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA
Kids under 18	22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±1.9Lowest 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%	21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±1.3Lowest 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	$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA
	Dedham 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±$28kLowest 7% above MA	$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA
	Dedham and Mansfield 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	$7,918Highest 32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dedham and Mansfield 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%	5.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	20%±3.4 MA: 18.6%	20%±2.7 MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#60 of 282 in MA	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Mansfield	Dedham
High school in town	Mansfield High	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.