Compare towns

Dighton vs Halifax vs Hardwick

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%).
Halifax has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).

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.

MeasureDightonHalifaxHardwick
People
Population
8,193Highest
7,748
2,684Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+14.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3.1%
MA: +7.4%
-10.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.7±2.9
7% above MA
41.9±4.7Lowest
5% above MA
45.3±9.8Highest
13% above MA
Hardwick 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%
22.2%±5.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
20.5%±5.6Lowest
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%
18.8%±3.6
MA: 17.9%
22.7%±5Highest
MA: 17.9%
Hardwick 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%
36.1%Highest
MA: 47.3%
30.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5%±1.8
MA: 7.9%
6.2%±4.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
Hardwick 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
$118,556±$11k
14% above MA
$75,000±$22kLowest
28% below 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
$481,500±$51k
14% below MA
$346,700±$67kLowest
38% 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
$1,804±$375Highest
about the MA average
$1,108±$119Lowest
37% below MA
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
$6,840Highest
14% above MA
$4,400Lowest
27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
11.8%±16.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
45.6%±37.4
MA: 51.8%
59%±13.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
Hardwick and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.9%
MA: 10%
2.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
11%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.1%
MA: 62.5%
95.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
68.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
11 yrs newer than MA
1979Highest
15 yrs newer than MA
1968Lowest
4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minLowest
6% above MA
35 minHighest
22% above MA
31 min
7% above MA
Work from home
11%±3.9
MA: 18.6%
13.9%±5.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
8.7%±4.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Halifax 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 #120 of 282 in MA #163 of 282 in MA
School district Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth Halifax Quabbin
High school in town Bristol County Agricultural High None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.9
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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.