Compare towns
Mansfield vs Nelson 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Nelson | Norton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,931Highest |
648Lowest |
19,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3 6% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Highest 9% above U.S. |
39.6±1.2Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Nelson and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
12.9%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,273±$15kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% 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. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$501,400±$27k 51% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147 28% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% 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. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$5,929 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.6%±8.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% 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. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 282 in MA | — | #173 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | Nelson School District | 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 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.