Compare towns
Mansfield vs Sturbridge vs Norton
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 most expensive homes ($604k median).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Norton has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Sturbridge | Norton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,931Highest |
9,960Lowest |
19,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Sturbridge 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% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
45.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$124,535±$11kLowest 20% above MA |
| Sturbridge 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 7% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$501,400±$27k 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA |
| Norton and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,226Highest 21% above MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$5,929Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
46.6%±8.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
33 minLowest 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Mansfield and Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #173 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Norton |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Norton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
7.7Lowest |
10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.