Compare towns
Dighton vs Halifax vs Middlesex vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).
Halifax has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k 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.
| Measure | Dighton | Halifax | Middlesex | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,193 |
7,748 |
1,943Lowest |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±2.9 10% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Hanson 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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 69% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
| Dighton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $501,900±$47k 51% above U.S. |
$481,500±$51k 45% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,405±$192 about the U.S. average |
$1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,452 107% above U.S. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,402Lowest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.8%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Halifax 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 | — | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth | Halifax | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Bristol County Agricultural High | None in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
— | — | 14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.