Compare towns
Mansfield vs Hatfield vs Dedham vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Hatfield | Dedham | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,931 |
3,325Lowest |
25,237Highest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
| Hatfield 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 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield 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% MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 21% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
| 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 7% above MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
| Stoneham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,226 21% above MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Hatfield 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | Hatfield | Dedham | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | Smith Academy | Dedham High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
6.1Lowest |
10.4 |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.