Compare towns
Norton vs Pepperell 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 youngest population (median age 39.6).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k 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.
| Measure | Norton | Pepperell | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,240 |
11,663Lowest |
23,931Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±3.3Highest 6% above MA |
41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
| Pepperell 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% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Pepperell 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% |
18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell 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% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,535±$11k 20% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% 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±$27k 11% below MA |
$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
$603,500±$28kHighest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,803±$147 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 |
$6,698 12% above MA |
$7,226Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.6%±8.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Norton and Pepperell 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% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1980Lowest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 12% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norton | North Middlesex | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Norton High | None in town | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | 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.