Compare towns
Mansfield vs Stow vs Auburn vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
Auburn has the most affordable homes ($400k median).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
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 | Stow | Auburn | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,931 |
7,165Lowest |
16,970 |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Auburn and Dedham 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% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
21%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Stow 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Auburn 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% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham 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 |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$116,711±$10kLowest 12% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$400,000±$16kLowest 29% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,467±$155Lowest 17% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,289Lowest 12% below MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Stow 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 MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
26 minLowest 12% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #106 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | Nashoba | Auburn | Dedham |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | None in town | Auburn Senior High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | 12.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.