Compare towns
Mansfield vs Needham vs Sutton 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 renters (26.9% rent).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Norton has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Needham | Sutton | Norton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,931 |
32,459Highest |
9,452Lowest |
19,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Sutton and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
45.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$124,535±$11kLowest 20% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,911±$375 8% above MA |
| Needham and Norton 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$5,929Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
46.6%±8.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
33 min 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #173 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | Needham | Sutton | Norton |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | Needham High | Sutton High School | Norton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.9 |
12.6Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| 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.