Mansfield Center's suburban feeling
While Mansfield Center is Manfield’s downtown area, the neighborhood retains a suburban feel. “It's a great community,” says Mansfield Center resident Erin Shockley. "It's a good place to raise kids and has good schools.” The area is also becoming popular for people commuting to Boston, with Condos popping up in the neighborhood. “Even though it's expensive here, it's cheaper than living in Boston,” Shockley says. As the center of the city, the neighborhood is also home to Town Hall and Mansfield Common — a small green space in front of Town Hall that's the site of the town’s community-sponsored events. The neighborhood has a CAP Index crime score of 4 out of 10, on par with the national average of 4.
Older homes and new condos
“Mansfield Center does not have a lot of new builds,” Shockley says. “There's a lot of condos that have gone up. But, as far as the other houses, it's mostly older homes built in the 1900s,” Shockley continued. “A five-minute walk further into Mansfield, has neighborhoods with bigger, newer colonial homes.” Single-family residences range from $402,000 to $905,000. Larger homes can go for $1 million to $1.4 million. Condos and townhouses start at $295,000 and go as high as $775,700. Multifamily properties are common in the neighborhood and hover around $500,000 to $900,000. Closer to downtown, homes tend to sit closer together, while further out, there is less walkability and more yard space. Properties are shaded by dense trees in the summer.
Outdoor summer events and Rock bands at The Xfinity Center
Throughout the year, Mansfield Common is bustling with activity during the weekly farmers market. During the summer, lawn events at the common include the Movies Under the Stars series that takes place every Wednesday from June to August, Concerts on the Common and Arts in the Park.
"They have a Family Fun Night in July where the main street is shut down, and local businesses have events, crafts, games and food,” DiPietrantonio says. The Xfinity Center is a partially covered Ampitheater where big names like Aerosmith and Oasis have performed. Many bands have recorded live tracks and albums there, and the amphitheater can be spotted in music videos from Nickelback and The Fray. “There’s a carnival there once a year,” Shockley says. “And they hold our town's high school graduation there.” For seasonal fun, Flint Farm has a corn maze and hayrides in the fall, and an ice cream stand in the summer. The vegetable farm, established in 1868, sells fresh produce in both seasons.
Fulton’s Pond and Park is a peaceful spot to watch the ducks and geese on the water. It’s been an important part of Mansfield since the early 1930s and is home to events like The Fall Festival in October and the annual rubber duck race in June. Mansfield Memorial Park has tennis courts, a playground and a skatepark. Outside the neighborhood, there are a few conservation areas with hiking trails. In the cold months, indoor sports complexes like M-Plex are an option.
Local eateries downtown and Mansfield Crossing
Mansfield’s downtown dining scene mostly consists of small, locally owned and operated shops and restaurants. Jimmy’s Pub is a community staple. “It's been around for 40 years and maybe even longer than that,” says Ruth DiPietrantonio, a broker with Monarch Realty Group who has lived in Mansfield for over 30 years. Father up the road, Trattoria Romana Pizzeria Bar & Grill is a New England chain that grants a taste of Italy in its six locations. The more retail-heavy section of Mansfield is on the other side of Commercial Street, which borders Mansfield Center. “Most of the shopping centers are in West Mansfield,” DiPietrantonio says. “Mansfield Crossing is a large shopping center.” There, residents have chain restaurants, Shaw’s grocer and anchor stores like Khol’s, Best Buy and Famous Footwear.
Mansfield High's new football stadium
The location of the neighborhood schools offers convenience for parents. "In Mansfield, all the schools are on the same street,” Shockley says. “They're all just across from each other.” Robinson Elementary serves kindergarten through second grade students and receives a B grade on Niche. Third through Fifth- graders attend B-plus-rated Jordan/Jackson Elementary. Both Qualters Middle and Mansfield High earn an A-minus. Mansfield High’s new football stadium opened in 2024. During their first game played in the new facility, the Mansfield Hornets won 49-0.
Between Providence and Boston
Driving to downtown Boston is around 32 miles and a trip to downtown Providence will take around 22 miles. Commuting times fluctuate greatly based on traffic. Congested highways cause many residents to use the commuter rail. "The center of town is very walkable, and one of the draws is that the train station to Boston and Providence is within walking distance,” DiPietrantonio says. The neighborhood is also about equal distance between Boston Logan International Airport and Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport, both around 30 miles. The neighborhood's western edge is bordered by Interstate 495, leading to several central Massachusetts counties.
