What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoughton has the most kids (18.5% under 18).

Wareham has the most affordable homes ($425k median).

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	Wareham
People
Population	29,225Highest	23,302Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.7±1.9Lowest 14% above MA	52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA
Kids under 18	18.5%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%	13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	20.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Wareham 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%	27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Stoughton and Wareham 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	$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA
	Stoughton and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$523,800±$28kHighest 7% below MA	$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,050±$200Highest 16% above MA	$1,504±$180Lowest 15% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,215Highest 4% above MA	$4,341Lowest 28% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8%	51.4%±23.3Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Stoughton and Wareham 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%	6.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 15% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	15.4%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Stoughton and Wareham 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	#272 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoughton	Wareham
High school in town	Stoughton High	Wareham Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Highest	8.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.