What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mansfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k 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	Pepperell
People
Population	23,931Highest	11,663Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA	42.4±3.3Highest 6% above MA
	Pepperell 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%	20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Mansfield and Pepperell 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%	18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Pepperell 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Pepperell 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±$15kHighest 21% above MA	$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA
	Mansfield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,500±$28kHighest 7% above MA	$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,803±$147Highest about the MA average	$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,226Highest 21% above MA	$6,698Lowest 12% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±16.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Pepperell and Mansfield 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%	8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 16 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 13% above MA	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6%	18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Mansfield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#60 of 282 in MA	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Mansfield	North Middlesex
High school in town	Mansfield High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1	—
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.