Compare towns
Mansfield vs Epping vs Dedham vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mansfield has the most renters (26.9% rent).
Epping has the most homeowners (86.3%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Grafton has the highest household income ($131k).
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 | Epping | Dedham | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,931 |
7,430Lowest |
25,237Highest |
19,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3 6% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
41.1±1.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Epping 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,273±$15k 55% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$131,484±$11kHighest 63% above U.S. |
| Grafton 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 81% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$525,300±$37k 58% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147 28% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,504±$169Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Mansfield 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. |
$6,936Lowest 122% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$7,117 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Dedham 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | Epping School District | Dedham | Grafton |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | Epping High School | Dedham High | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
9.3Lowest |
10.4 |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.