What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mansfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Mansfield	Whitingham
People
Population	23,931Highest	1,368Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.4±1.3Lowest 6% above U.S.	46.4±7.1Highest 19% above U.S.
	Whitingham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Mansfield and Whitingham 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%	31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,273±$15kHighest 55% above U.S.	$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,500±$28kHighest 81% above U.S.	$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,803±$147Highest 28% above U.S.	$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,226Highest 132% above U.S.	$5,055Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Whitingham and Mansfield 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%	15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 25% above U.S.	38 minHighest 44% above U.S.
Work from home	20%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#60 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Mansfield	Twin Valley Unified School District #75
High school in town	Mansfield High	Twin Valley Middle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	7.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.