Compare towns
Stoughton vs Dedham vs Peabody
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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%).
Peabody has the shortest commute (26 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.
| Measure | Stoughton | Dedham | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,225 |
25,237Lowest |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
45.3±2.4 13% above MA |
| Stoughton and Peabody 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% |
18.7%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Peabody and Dedham 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%±2 MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Peabody and Dedham 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% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8Lowest 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±$6k about the MA average |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,800±$28kLowest 7% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$596,200±$12k 6% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,050±$200Highest 16% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,950±$99Lowest 11% 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 | $6,215 4% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,065Lowest 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Stoughton and Peabody 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% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 15% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 15.4%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest 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 | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoughton | Dedham | Peabody |
| High school in town | Stoughton High | Dedham High | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Highest |
10.4 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.