Compare towns
Dighton vs Halifax vs Reading
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 homeowners (95.5%).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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 | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,193 |
7,748Lowest |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±2.9 7% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Reading and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Halifax 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax 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 |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
| Reading 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±$47k 11% below MA |
$481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,405±$192Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
| Reading and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,452Lowest 8% above MA |
$6,840 14% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Halifax and Reading 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% |
3.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 11%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #85 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth | Halifax | — |
| High school in town | Bristol County Agricultural High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — |
| 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.