Compare towns
Norton vs Needham 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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,240Lowest |
32,459Highest |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
| Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Norton 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,535±$11kLowest 20% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,911±$375 8% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Needham 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%±8.9 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Norton 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 12% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #173 of 282 in MA | #19 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 | 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.