Compare towns
Mansfield vs Stow vs Berlin 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 the highest household income ($186k).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Berlin | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,931 |
7,165 |
3,378Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest 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 |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 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% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.1% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%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% |
4.3%±2.5 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 |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$28kLowest 7% above MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Berlin and Dedham 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 |
$7,116Lowest 19% above 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% |
52.6%±19.7 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% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Berlin 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 | #44 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | Nashoba | Berlin-Boylston | Dedham |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | None in town | None in town | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | — | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.