Compare towns

Mansfield vs Mendon 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).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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.

MeasureMansfieldMendonDedham
People
Population
23,931
6,325Lowest
25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.9%
MA: +7.4%
+6.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.4±1.3Lowest
4% above MA
44.1±4.4
10% above MA
44.6±1.6Highest
12% above MA
Dedham and Mendon 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%
22.8%±6.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
18.6%±1.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Mendon and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.4%±2
MA: 17.9%
14.7%±3.4Lowest
MA: 17.9%
21.9%±2Highest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
51.1%
MA: 47.3%
46.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
55%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
6.8%±2.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1
MA: 7.9%
Mendon and Dedham 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
$132,256±$33kHighest
27% above MA
$128,955±$10k
24% above MA
Mendon 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±$28kLowest
7% above MA
$616,000±$37k
10% above MA
$661,800±$16kHighest
18% above MA
Dedham and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,803±$147Lowest
about the MA average
$1,840±$196
4% above MA
$2,042±$182Highest
16% above MA
Dedham and Mendon 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
$7,213Lowest
20% above MA
$7,918Highest
32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.2%±8.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
78.7%±26Highest
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±10
MA: 51.8%
Mendon 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
MA: 10%
7.1%Highest
MA: 10%
5.6%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
86.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
73.4%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
16 yrs newer than MA
1985Highest
21 yrs newer than MA
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
13% above MA
30 min
4% above MA
29 minLowest
about the MA average
Work from home
20%±3.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
15.1%±5.7Lowest
MA: 18.6%
20%±2.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #60 of 282 in MA #210 of 282 in MA #119 of 282 in MA
School district Mansfield Mendon-Upton Dedham
High school in town Mansfield High None in town Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
—
10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.