Compare towns
Mansfield vs South Hadley 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).
South Hadley has the most affordable homes ($358k 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.
| Measure | Mansfield | South Hadley | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,931 |
17,754Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
42.6±2.6 7% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Dedham and South Hadley 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% |
12.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| South Hadley 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% |
50.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$93,910±$15kLowest 10% 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 |
$357,900±$19kLowest 36% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$1,325±$54Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| 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 21% above MA |
$5,500Lowest 8% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.7%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and South Hadley 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% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1961 3 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
24 minLowest 19% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 282 in MA | #216 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | South Hadley | Dedham |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | South Hadley High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
8.6Lowest |
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.