Compare towns
Mansfield vs Peabody vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering MansfieldNorton
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Peabody has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k 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 | Peabody | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,931Lowest |
54,695Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Peabody and Dedham 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% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Peabody 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% |
24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Peabody and Dedham 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% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
| Dedham 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 |
$596,200±$12kLowest 6% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$1,950±$99 11% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Dedham and Peabody 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 |
$5,065Lowest 15% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | Peabody | Dedham |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
10.3Lowest |
10.4 |
| 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.