What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).

Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).

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	Barre	Dighton
People
Population	5,572Lowest	8,193Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA	42.7±2.9Lowest 7% above MA
	Barre and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	21%±4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Dighton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9%	17.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Barre and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	35.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Barre and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,727±$13kLowest 4% above MA	$136,646±$19kHighest 31% above MA
	Dighton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA	$501,900±$47kHighest 11% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA	$1,405±$192Highest 20% below MA
	Dighton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,163Lowest 14% below MA	$6,452Highest 8% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Highest MA: 51.8%	11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Barre and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest MA: 10%	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	90.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	31 minLowest 6% above MA
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%	11%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Barre 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	#134 of 282 in MA	#85 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	Bristol County Agricultural High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	11.9Lowest
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.