What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoughton has the most people working from home (15.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Stoughton	Peabody
People
Population	29,225Lowest	54,695Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA	45.3±2.4Lowest 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%	18.7%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Peabody 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%	24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Peabody 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	35%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Stoughton and Peabody 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	$96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA
	Stoughton and Peabody 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	$596,200±$12kHighest 6% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,050±$200Highest 16% above MA	$1,950±$99Lowest 11% above MA
	Stoughton and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,215Highest 4% above MA	$5,065Lowest 15% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8%	58.3%±5.9Lowest 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%	7.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 15% above MA	26 minLowest 11% below MA
Work from home	15.4%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#196 of 282 in MA	#228 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoughton	Peabody
High school in town	Stoughton High	Peabody Veterans Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Highest	10.3Lowest
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.