Compare towns
Mansfield vs Peru vs Grafton
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 expensive homes ($604k median).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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 | Peru | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,931Highest |
630Lowest |
19,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
52.6±4.8Highest 32% above MA |
41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Grafton and Mansfield 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% |
29.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.1% MA: 47.3% |
28%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Grafton 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 |
$90,750±$18kLowest 13% below MA |
$131,484±$11kHighest 26% above MA |
| Grafton 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±$28kHighest 7% above MA |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
$525,300±$37k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147Highest about the MA average |
— | $1,504±$169Lowest 15% below MA |
| Mansfield and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,226Highest 21% above MA |
$3,805Lowest 36% below MA |
$7,117 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Grafton and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±2.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Grafton and Mansfield 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 | — | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | — | Grafton |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | — | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.