Stoughton

A recent study about this town summarized one of its key attractions this way: "It is an excellent place to live for those commuting to urban centers or other distant communities for work."

This Norfolk County town is served by three exits off Route 24, making Interstates 93 and 95 a short drive. It also has an MBTA commuter rail terminus in downtown.

Town Manager Mark Stankiewicz also said the community has a diverse population, affordable housing when compared to some surrounding communities, and "what I would consider a good school system."

Stankiewicz noted the town is now a full member of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, assuring steady water supplies, in contrast to neighboring Brockton which is pushing for a desalination plant.

Stankiewicz said residential taxpayers are helped by the fact that roughly 20 percent of town is commercial property, including a giant IKEA store and a Target store now being built.

"There is a lot of services for the tax money," he said.

Greenspace includes town-owned Cedar Hill Golf Course, a nine-hole course, and the 675-acre Bird Street conservation area.

Once home to Ponkapoag Native Americans, Stoughton was first part of Dorchester settlement, but became its own town in 1726.

On a recent week, Realtor.com listed 109 single-family homes, ranging from $149,900 for a two-bed, one-bath, 744-square-foot home to $1.3 million for a four-bed, 4.5-bath, 4,800-square-foot home on 4.2 acres. Median price of a single-family home through November was $320,000, according to Warren Group, which publishes real estate information.

source: boston.com