What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Fairhaven has the most renters (25.6% rent).

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	Dighton	Fairhaven
People
Population	8,193Lowest	15,903Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.7±2.9Lowest 7% above MA	48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA
	Fairhaven and Dighton 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%	16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Dighton and Fairhaven 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%	24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2Highest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Dighton and Fairhaven 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	$95,965±$19kLowest 8% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$501,900±$47kHighest 11% below MA	$446,700±$19kLowest 21% below MA
	Dighton and Fairhaven 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	$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,452Highest 8% above MA	$3,566Lowest 40% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.1%±14Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%	8.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 6% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	11%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	11.4%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Fairhaven 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	#126 of 282 in MA
School district	Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth	Fairhaven
High school in town	Bristol County Agricultural High	Fairhaven High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	11.4Lowest
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.