Compare towns
Middleton vs Dedham vs Mansfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Middleton | Dedham | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,816Lowest |
25,237Highest |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Dedham and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$125,273±$15kLowest 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$603,500±$28kLowest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
| Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,785Highest 47% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$7,226Lowest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #71 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | Dedham | Mansfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.