Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Dighton vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashburnham has the most people working from home (16%).
Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k 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.
| Measure | Ashburnham | Dighton | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415Lowest |
8,193 |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
42.7±2.9 7% above MA |
42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
| Hanson and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,809±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$136,646±$19kHighest 31% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
| Dighton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$501,900±$47k 11% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
| Hanson and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1k about the MA average |
$1,405±$192Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
| Hanson and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,046Lowest about the MA average |
$6,452Highest 8% above MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.1% MA: 62.5% |
89%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
11%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashburnham and Dighton 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 | #178 of 282 in MA | #85 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Bristol County Agricultural High | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.