Compare towns
Mansfield vs Freeport vs Dedham
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 kids (22.4% under 18).
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k 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 | Freeport | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,931 |
8,802Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3Lowest 6% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mansfield and Freeport 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% |
26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Freeport 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Mansfield 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. |
$107,326±$19kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Dedham 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±$28k 81% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76kLowest 53% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147 28% above U.S. |
$1,439±$123Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% 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. |
$5,042Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport 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% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Freeport 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 | #4 of 133 in ME | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | RSU 05 | Dedham |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | Freeport High School | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
12.2Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.