Compare towns
Northbridge vs Mansfield vs Dedham vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Northbridge | Mansfield | Dedham | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
23,931 |
25,237Highest |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| Dedham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest 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 | $111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Sutton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Mansfield | Dedham | Sutton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Mansfield High | Dedham High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
11.1 |
10.4Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.