Compare towns
Mansfield vs Exeter vs Norton
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 kids (22.4% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Norton has the most homeowners (83.8%).
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 | Exeter | Norton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,931Highest |
16,151Lowest |
19,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3 6% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
39.6±1.2Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
12.9%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,273±$15kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$124,535±$11k 54% above U.S. |
| Mansfield and Norton 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. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$501,400±$27k 51% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,911±$375Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Norton and Exeter 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,929Lowest 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.6%±8.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mansfield and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #173 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Norton |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | Exeter High School | Norton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
12.1Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.