Compare towns
Dighton vs Halifax vs Shirley
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%).
Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,193Highest |
7,748 |
6,976Lowest |
| 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 |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
| Shirley 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% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest 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% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley 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% |
36.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley 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±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
| Dighton and Shirley 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 |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% 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±$192Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
| Halifax and Shirley 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 |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley 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% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 11%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Shirley 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 | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth | Halifax | Ayer Shirley School District |
| 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.