What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoughton has the most homeowners (74.1%).

Beverly has the most people working from home (22.3%).

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	Beverly
People
Population	29,225Lowest	42,665Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA	39±1.8Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	18.5%±1.9 MA: 19.4%	18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	20.8%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%	19.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Stoughton and Beverly 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%	53.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,794±$6kLowest about the MA average	$106,044±$7kHighest about the MA average
	Beverly and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$523,800±$28kLowest 7% below MA	$650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,050±$200Highest 16% above MA	$1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average
	Stoughton and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,215Lowest 4% above MA	$6,836Highest 14% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8%	55.5%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Stoughton and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.4%Lowest MA: 10%	9.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 15% above MA	30 minLowest 3% above MA
Work from home	15.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#196 of 282 in MA	#144 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoughton	Beverly
High school in town	Stoughton High	Beverly High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Lowest	12.2Highest
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.