Compare towns
Mansfield vs Sheldon vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering MansfieldNorton
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mansfield has the most expensive homes ($604k median).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Sheldon | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,931Highest |
2,267Lowest |
19,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3Highest 6% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.1±1.6 6% above U.S. |
| Mansfield and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Grafton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 55% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$131,484±$11kHighest 63% above U.S. |
| 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 81% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$525,300±$37k 58% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,286±$379Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,504±$169 6% above U.S. |
| 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 132% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$7,117 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Grafton |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | None in town | 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 |
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.