What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norton has the most affordable homes ($501k median).

Mansfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

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	Norton	Mansfield
People
Population	19,240Lowest	23,931Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average	41.4±1.3Highest 4% above MA
	Mansfield and Norton 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%	22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9%	15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Norton and Mansfield 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%	51.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	5.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,535±$11kLowest 20% above MA	$125,273±$15kHighest 21% above MA
	Mansfield and Norton 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	$603,500±$28kHighest 7% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA	$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average
	Norton and Mansfield 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	$7,226Highest 21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.6%±8.9Highest MA: 51.8%	38.2%±8.5Lowest 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% MA: 10%	4.7% MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA	1980Lowest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 12% above MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Mansfield and Norton 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	#173 of 282 in MA	#60 of 282 in MA
School district	Norton	Mansfield
High school in town	Norton High	Mansfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	11.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.