Compare towns
Dighton vs Harvard vs Lancaster vs Halifax
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%).
Harvard has the most expensive homes ($834k median).
Lancaster has the most renters (14.9% rent).
Halifax has the most homeowners (95.5%).
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 | Harvard | Lancaster | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,193 |
6,927Lowest |
8,606Highest |
7,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±2.9 7% above MA |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
| Harvard and Lancaster 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% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster 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% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Highest 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 |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $501,900±$47k 11% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,405±$192 20% below MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,804±$375 about the MA average |
| Lancaster 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$6,840 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% MA: 10% |
4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 11%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Harvard and Lancaster 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 | #12 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth | Harvard | Nashoba | Halifax |
| High school in town | Bristol County Agricultural High | The Bromfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
11.0Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.