Compare towns
Dighton vs Barre vs Southampton
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 renters (24.2% rent).
Southampton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Southampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,193Highest |
5,572Lowest |
6,230 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±2.9Lowest 7% above MA |
43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA |
43.4±3.5 9% above MA |
| Barre and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Dighton and Southampton 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%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Southampton and Barre 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% |
41.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Southampton 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 |
$123,125±$23k 18% above MA |
| Dighton and Southampton 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 |
$452,300±$25k 20% below MA |
| Dighton and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,405±$192Highest 20% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% 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 | $6,452Highest 8% above MA |
$5,163Lowest 14% below MA |
$5,470 9% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±18.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Barre and Southampton 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% |
90.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 11%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.2%±3.6Lowest 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 | #85 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA | #205 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth | Quabbin | Southampton |
| 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 |
— |
| 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.