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Mansfield Center, MA

Stretch

Living in Mansfield Center, MA costs about 17% more than the national average (Cost Index: 117). Housing is the main driver — the typical home value of $449,200 is well above the $303,400 US median. The local median household income is $101,546, which helps frame the place-side housing burden.

Mansfield Center sits in the stretch zone: not impossible, but household feasibility will depend heavily on rent, down payment, debt load, and whether you are renting or buying. Start with the verdict panel, then compare scenarios before treating this city as affordable.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Safe

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Mansfield Center.

Monthly Housing
$1,601/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
19%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$6,361/mo
After housing and debt · $2,120/person
Rent vs Buy
Renting is the lower-pressure baseline
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ACSRent source: ACSBEA proxy: nonmetroHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 25%
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Cost Index
117
Expensive
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$449,200
Source: Census ACS
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$1,601/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$101,546
National: $78,538
Population
7,232
Purchasing Power
111
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
148 / 100
48% above average
Rent Index
119 / 100
19% above average
Goods & Groceries
96 / 100
About the same as most US cities
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Utilities
88 / 100
12% lower utility bills
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Healthcare & Services
98 / 100
In line with national average
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Overall Index
117
Expensive · 17% above average

Mansfield Center Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $449,200 and Massachusetts's property tax rate of 1.15%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$101,546
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
19%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
4.4x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Mansfield Center looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in Mansfield Center, MA

Est. Annual Property Tax
$5,166
Monthly Impact
$431
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
1.15%
National avg: ~1.00%

Massachusetts Place Tax Context

Tax TypeMassachusettsNational Avg
Property Tax Rate1.15%1.00%
Top Income Tax Rate9%~5.0%
State Sales Tax6.25%~5.0%

Compare Mansfield Center to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

Mansfield Center, MA
117
119
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Mansfield Center, MA: 148
Rent Prices
119

FAQ: Living in Mansfield Center

Is Mansfield Center, MA an expensive place to live?+

Yes — Mansfield Center is about 17% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 117. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $449,200, and monthly rents average roughly $1,601. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run closer to the national norm.

How does Mansfield Center fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,601, while local median household income is $101,546. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 19% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in Mansfield Center, MA?+

Massachusetts has a progressive state income tax with a top rate of 9%. The effective property tax rate is 1.15%. On a home worth $449,200, that translates to roughly $5,166 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 6.25% on everyday purchases.

How much does it cost to rent in Mansfield Center, MA?+

The typical monthly rent in Mansfield Center is around $1,601. That's about 19% higher than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $449,200, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Mansfield Center, MA?+

The median home in Mansfield Center is valued at $449,200. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $2,271/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 61% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Mansfield Center?+

Grocery prices in Mansfield Center are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 96, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 88). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Mansfield Center, MA like to live in?+

Mansfield Center is a small town with a population of about 7,232. The median age of residents is 42.3, skewing somewhat older — common in established suburban communities. The local poverty rate is 2.82%, well below the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Massachusetts

If Mansfield Center feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in Massachusetts

Use these city pages when you want to compare Mansfield Center against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly