Compare towns
Dighton vs Dedham vs Freetown
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%).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Freetown has the highest household income ($144k).
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 | Dedham | Freetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,193Lowest |
25,237Highest |
9,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±2.9 7% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
40.9±3.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Dedham 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% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Freetown 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% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.8%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $136,646±$19k 31% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$143,884±$15kHighest 38% above MA |
| Freetown and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $501,900±$47kLowest 11% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$518,200±$30k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,405±$192Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,891±$363 7% above MA |
| Dedham and Freetown 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 |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,188Lowest 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.2%±12.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 11%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #85 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #161 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth | Dedham | Freetown-Lakeville |
| High school in town | Bristol County Agricultural High | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
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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.