Compare towns
Mansfield vs Thornton vs Norton
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).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Thornton | Norton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,931Highest |
2,799Lowest |
19,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3 6% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
39.6±1.2Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thornton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
12.9%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,273±$15kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$124,535±$11k 54% above U.S. |
| Mansfield and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$28kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$501,400±$27k 51% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147 28% above U.S. |
$1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,911±$375Highest 35% above U.S. |
| 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 132% above U.S. |
$5,032Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$5,929 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.6%±8.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton and Norton 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% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton and Mansfield 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | #173 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | Thornton School District | Norton |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | None in town | Norton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.