What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoughton has the most homeowners (74.1%).

Amesbury has the shortest commute (29 min average).

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	Stoughton	Amesbury
People
Population	29,225Highest	17,403Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA	43.7±1.7Lowest 9% 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	18.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	20%±2.4Highest 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+	20.8%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%	18.2%±2.1Lowest 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+	41.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	44.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.3Lowest 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	$104,794±$6kHighest about the MA average	$103,554±$12kLowest 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	$523,800±$28kHighest 7% below MA	$519,300±$32kLowest 8% 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	$2,050±$200Highest 16% above MA	$1,683±$115Lowest 4% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,215Lowest 4% above MA	$7,360Highest 23% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8%	66.7%±10.7Lowest 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	8.4%Highest MA: 10%	7.1%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	68.6%Lowest 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	33 minHighest 15% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	15.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	17.4%±2.8Highest 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	#196 of 282 in MA	#151 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoughton	Amesbury
High school in town	Stoughton High	Amesbury High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Lowest	10.9Highest
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.