Compare towns
Mansfield vs Lancaster vs Upton vs Dedham
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 youngest population (median age 41.4).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Upton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,931 |
8,606 |
8,189Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%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 |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Upton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Mansfield 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Upton 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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±$27k 30% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Upton and Lancaster 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 |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | Nashoba | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Dedham |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | 11.2Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.