Compare towns
Amesbury vs Dedham vs Stoughton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amesbury has the most kids (20% under 18).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Stoughton has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Amesbury | Dedham | Stoughton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403Lowest |
25,237 |
29,225Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Lowest 9% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA |
| Stoughton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Amesbury and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.8%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Stoughton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,554±$12kLowest about the MA average |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$104,794±$6k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32kLowest 8% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$523,800±$28k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Lowest 4% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,050±$200Highest 16% above MA |
| Stoughton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360 23% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,215Lowest 4% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stoughton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
74.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Amesbury 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 | #151 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #196 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Dedham | Stoughton |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Dedham High | Stoughton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
10.8 |
| 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.