What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Newton has the most expensive homes ($1265k 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.

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

Measure	Mansfield	Newton
People
Population	23,931Lowest	89,044Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA	42.1±0.9Highest 5% above MA
	Newton 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%	20.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Mansfield and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	81.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,273±$15kLowest 21% above MA	$190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,500±$28kLowest 7% above MA	$1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average	$2,370±$81Highest 35% 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%	43.3%±4.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Newton 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%	4.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	70%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA	1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	27 minLowest 9% below MA
Work from home	20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.2%±2Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#60 of 282 in MA	#25 of 282 in MA
School district	Mansfield	Newton
High school in town	Mansfield High	Newton North High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	10.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.