Compare towns
Norton vs Dover 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).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Mansfield has the most renters (26.9% rent).
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 | Dover | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,240 |
5,930Lowest |
23,931Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
| Dover and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Norton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,535±$11kLowest 20% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,911±$375 8% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Dover 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.6%±8.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Norton and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 12% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #173 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norton | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Norton High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
9.8Lowest |
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.