Compare towns
Stoughton vs Dedham vs Avon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoughton has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Avon has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Stoughton | Dedham | Avon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,225Highest |
25,237 |
4,774Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
37.5±4Lowest 6% below 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%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Avon and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±4.7Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Avon and Stoughton 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±$10k 24% above MA |
$130,625±$33kHighest 26% above MA |
| Avon and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,800±$28k 7% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$509,600±$62kLowest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,050±$200Highest 16% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,558±$265Lowest 12% below 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 |
$6,627 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
53.3%±24.4Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 15% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 15.4%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±3.9Lowest 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 | #212 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoughton | Dedham | Avon |
| High school in town | Stoughton High | Dedham High | Avon Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Highest |
10.4 |
9.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.