Compare towns
Mansfield vs Middleton vs Norton
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 most kids (22.4% under 18).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Norton has the most affordable homes ($501k 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 | Middleton | Norton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,931Highest |
9,816Lowest |
19,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
43.1±2Highest 8% above MA |
39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Middleton and Mansfield 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% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Middleton and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
$124,535±$11kLowest 20% above MA |
| Middleton 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 |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
$501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA |
| Norton and Mansfield 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 |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
$5,929Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.6%±8.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norton and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
33 min 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Mansfield and Norton 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #173 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | Middleton | Norton |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | None in town | Norton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 10.9Lowest |
| 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.