Compare towns
Mansfield vs Meredith vs Norton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Norton has the most homeowners (83.8%).
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 | Meredith | Norton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,931Highest |
6,758Lowest |
19,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3 6% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
39.6±1.2Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
12.9%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,273±$15kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$124,535±$11k 54% above U.S. |
| Mansfield and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$28kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$501,400±$27k 51% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147 28% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,911±$375Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Norton and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,226Highest 132% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$5,929 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.6%±8.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #173 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Norton |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | Inter-Lakes High School | Norton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
11.1Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.