Compare towns
Dighton vs Fairhaven 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%).
Fairhaven has the most renters (25.6% 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 | Fairhaven | Southampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,193 |
15,903Highest |
6,230Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±2.9Lowest 7% above MA |
48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA |
43.4±3.5 9% above MA |
| Fairhaven 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% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest 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% |
24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Fairhaven and Southampton 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% |
32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Southampton 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±$19kHighest 31% above MA |
$95,965±$19kLowest 8% below 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 |
$446,700±$19kLowest 21% 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 |
$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,452Highest 8% above MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$5,470 9% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±18.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Fairhaven 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% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 6% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 11%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.2%±3.6Lowest 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 | #205 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth | Fairhaven | Southampton |
| High school in town | Bristol County Agricultural High | Fairhaven High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.