Compare towns
Mansfield vs Lancaster vs Stoneham
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%).
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 | Lancaster | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,931Highest |
8,606Lowest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
| Lancaster and Stoneham 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%±4Lowest 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% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham 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% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Mansfield and Stoneham 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 |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Lancaster 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 |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
| Lancaster 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 |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Stoneham 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% |
5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Stoneham 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | Nashoba | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | None in town | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.