Compare towns

Mansfield vs Smithfield vs Dedham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($446k median).
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.

MeasureMansfieldSmithfieldDedham
People
Population
23,931
22,233Lowest
25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.4±1.3Lowest
6% above U.S.
41.8±2.6
7% above U.S.
44.6±1.6Highest
15% above U.S.
Dedham and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±1.9
U.S.: 22%
Mansfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.4%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dedham and Smithfield 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%
40%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$125,273±$15k
55% above U.S.
$102,077±$8kLowest
26% above U.S.
$128,955±$10kHighest
60% above U.S.
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
81% above U.S.
$446,400±$12kLowest
34% above U.S.
$661,800±$16kHighest
99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,803±$147
28% above U.S.
$1,016±$241Lowest
28% below U.S.
$2,042±$182Highest
45% above U.S.
Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,226
132% above U.S.
$5,207Lowest
67% above U.S.
$7,918Highest
154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.2%±8.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±10
U.S.: 51.1%
Smithfield 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
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
Work from home
20%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #60 of 282 in MA #8 of 38 in RI #119 of 282 in MA
School district Mansfield Smithfield Dedham
High school in town Mansfield High Smithfield High School Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
11.8Highest
10.4Lowest
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.