Compare towns
Mansfield vs Fairhaven 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Fairhaven has the oldest population (median age 48.5).
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 | Fairhaven | Norton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,931Highest |
15,903Lowest |
19,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA |
39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,273±$15kHighest 21% above MA |
$95,965±$19kLowest 8% below MA |
$124,535±$11k 20% above MA |
| 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 7% above MA |
$446,700±$19kLowest 21% below MA |
$501,400±$27k 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA |
| Norton and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,226Highest 21% above MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$5,929 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.6%±8.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Fairhaven and Norton 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% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Mansfield and Norton 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 | #126 of 282 in MA | #173 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | Fairhaven | Norton |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | Fairhaven High | Norton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.4Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.