Compare towns

Mansfield vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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.

MeasureMansfieldThompsonDedham
People
Population
23,931
9,337Lowest
25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.4±1.3Lowest
6% above U.S.
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
44.6±1.6
15% above U.S.
Kids under 18
22.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
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%
24.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
Thompson 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
21.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
55% above U.S.
$93,629±$18kLowest
16% 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.
$291,900±$24kLowest
12% below U.S.
$661,800±$16kHighest
99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,803±$147
28% above U.S.
$1,012±$344Lowest
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.
$3,822Lowest
23% above U.S.
$7,918Highest
154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.2%±8.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54%±18.7
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±10Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dedham and Thompson 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%
5.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
20%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #60 of 282 in MA #130 of 149 in CT #119 of 282 in MA
School district Mansfield Thompson School District Dedham
High school in town Mansfield High Tourtellotte Memorial High School Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
7.9Lowest
10.4
On TownTapestry
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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.