What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).

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

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	Webster	Stoughton
People
Population	2,227Lowest	29,225Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S.	45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S.
	Stoughton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22%	18.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Webster and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stoughton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S.	$104,794±$6kLowest 30% above U.S.
	Webster and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average	$523,800±$28kHighest 57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average	$2,050±$200Highest 45% above U.S.
	Stoughton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,021Lowest 93% above U.S.	$6,215Highest 99% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.6%±71Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	68.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stoughton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	74.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 16% above U.S.	33 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Webster 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
School district	Merrimack Valley School District	Stoughton
High school in town	None in town	Stoughton High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.