Compare towns
Dighton vs Barre vs Halifax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Halifax has the most people working from home (13.9%).
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 | Dighton | Barre | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,193Highest |
5,572Lowest |
7,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±2.9 7% above MA |
43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% 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 | 21%±4 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Barre and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $136,646±$19kHighest 31% above MA |
$107,727±$13kLowest 4% above MA |
$118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
| Dighton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $501,900±$47kHighest 11% below MA |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
| Dighton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,405±$192 20% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
| Halifax and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,452 8% above MA |
$5,163Lowest 14% below MA |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Halifax and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% MA: 10% |
8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 11%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Halifax and Barre 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 | #85 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth | Quabbin | Halifax |
| High school in town | Bristol County Agricultural High | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
12.9Highest |
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| 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.