What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).

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	Dedham
People
Population	29,225Highest	25,237Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA	44.6±1.6Lowest 12% 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	18.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Dedham and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2Highest 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+	41.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1Lowest 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	$104,794±$6kLowest about the MA average	$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$523,800±$28kLowest 7% below MA	$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,050±$200Highest 16% above MA	$2,042±$182Lowest 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	$6,215Lowest 4% above MA	$7,918Highest 32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Stoughton and Dedham 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%	5.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.4%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	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	15.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Dedham 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	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoughton	Dedham
High school in town	Stoughton High	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Highest	10.4Lowest
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.