What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amesbury has the shortest commute (29 min average).

Stoughton has the most homeowners (74.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Amesbury	Stoughton
People
Population	17,403Lowest	29,225Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+8.6% MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±1.7Lowest 9% above MA	45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA
	Stoughton and Amesbury 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%	18.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Amesbury and Stoughton 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%	20.8%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Stoughton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	41.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Stoughton and Amesbury 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	$104,794±$6kHighest about the MA average
	Stoughton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$519,300±$32kLowest 8% below MA	$523,800±$28kHighest 7% below MA
	Stoughton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,683±$115Lowest 4% below MA	$2,050±$200Highest 16% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,360Highest 23% above MA	$6,215Lowest 4% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±10.7Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10%	8.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	74.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969 5 yrs newer than MA	1969 5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	33 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	17.4%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6%	15.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Amesbury and Stoughton 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	#196 of 282 in MA
School district	Amesbury	Stoughton
High school in town	Amesbury High	Stoughton High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	10.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.