What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mansfield has the most affordable homes ($200k median).

Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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	Mendon
People
Population	691Lowest	1,113Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54±5.5Highest 39% above U.S.	53.4±10.5Lowest 37% above U.S.
	Mansfield and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%	14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Mansfield and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mansfield and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,304±$14kLowest 3% above U.S.	$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S.
	Mendon and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$200,000±$29kLowest 40% below U.S.	$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,230±$651 13% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,122Lowest 32% above U.S.	$5,342Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mendon and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	92.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 3% below U.S.	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	12.1%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mendon and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.