Compare towns
Mansfield vs Dover vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering MansfieldNorton
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mansfield has the most expensive homes ($604k median).
Dover has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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.
| Measure | Mansfield | Dover | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,931 |
33,364Highest |
19,902Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3Highest 6% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.1±1.6 6% above U.S. |
| Mansfield and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Grafton and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dover 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,273±$15k 55% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$131,484±$11kHighest 63% above U.S. |
| Grafton 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±$28kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$525,300±$37k 58% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,504±$169Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Mansfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,226 132% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$7,117Lowest 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Grafton 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | Dover School District | Grafton |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | Dover Senior High School | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.7 |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.