Compare towns
Norton 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
Norton has the most affordable homes ($501k median).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Norton | Dedham | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,240Lowest |
25,237Highest |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±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+ | 17.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,535±$11kLowest 20% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
| Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,911±$375 8% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Dedham and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,929Lowest about the MA average |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.6%±8.9 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham 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 MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 12% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #173 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norton | Dedham | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Norton High | Dedham High | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
10.4Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.