What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mansfield has the most affordable homes ($604k median).

Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Mansfield	Needham
People
Population	23,931Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA	43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA
	Needham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Needham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Mansfield and Needham 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	$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,500±$28kLowest 7% above MA	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average	$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,226Lowest 21% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	4.7%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA	1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#60 of 282 in MA	#19 of 282 in MA
School district	Mansfield	Needham
High school in town	Mansfield High	Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	11.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.