Compare towns
Mansfield vs Dover vs Dedham vs Norton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mansfield has the most renters (26.9% rent).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Norton has the most affordable homes ($501k 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 | Dover | Dedham | Norton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,931 |
5,930Lowest |
25,237Highest |
19,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Dover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover 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% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.1% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
45.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$124,535±$11kLowest 20% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,911±$375 8% above MA |
| Dover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,226 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$5,929Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.6%±8.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #173 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Dedham | Norton |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Dedham High | Norton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.8Lowest |
10.4 |
10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.