What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dartmouth has the shortest commute (27 min average).

Stoughton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).

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	Dartmouth	Stoughton
People
Population	33,328Highest	29,225Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.5±2Lowest 6% above MA	45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA
	Stoughton and Dartmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.5%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	21%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	20.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Dartmouth and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39%Lowest MA: 47.3%	41.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	6.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,839±$8kLowest 4% below MA	$104,794±$6kHighest about the MA average
	Stoughton and Dartmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$496,500±$20kLowest 12% below MA	$523,800±$28kHighest 7% below MA
	Stoughton and Dartmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,462±$159Lowest 17% below MA	$2,050±$200Highest 16% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,263Lowest 29% below MA	$6,215Highest 4% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Stoughton and Dartmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.3%Lowest MA: 10%	8.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA	1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 9% below MA	33 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	12.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	15.4%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Stoughton and Dartmouth 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	#115 of 282 in MA	#196 of 282 in MA
School district	Dartmouth	Stoughton
High school in town	Dartmouth High	Stoughton High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	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.