Compare towns
Mansfield vs Lancaster vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering MansfieldNorton
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Lancaster | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,931 |
8,606Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Dedham and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Lancaster 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% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest 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±$15kLowest 21% above MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Lancaster 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 7% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Lancaster and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,226Lowest 21% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | Nashoba | Dedham |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | None in town | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.