Compare towns

Dighton vs Marblehead 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%).
Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
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.

MeasureDightonMarbleheadHalifax
People
Population
8,193
20,413Highest
7,748Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+14.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3.2%
MA: +7.4%
+3.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.7±2.9
7% above MA
49.1±2Highest
23% above MA
41.9±4.7Lowest
5% above MA
Kids under 18
21%±4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.3%±2.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
22.2%±5.9
MA: 19.4%
Marblehead 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%
22.7%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
18.8%±3.6
MA: 17.9%
Marblehead 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%
78.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
36.1%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±2
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±1Lowest
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
$182,132±$28kHighest
75% above MA
$118,556±$11kLowest
14% above MA
Marblehead 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
$943,900±$31kHighest
68% above MA
$481,500±$51kLowest
14% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,405±$192Lowest
20% below MA
$1,764±$147
about the MA average
$1,804±$375Highest
about the MA average
Halifax and Marblehead 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
$8,309Highest
39% above MA
$6,840
14% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
11.8%±16.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
49.5%±8.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
45.6%±37.4
MA: 51.8%
Marblehead 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%
4.4%Highest
MA: 10%
2.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.1%
MA: 62.5%
85.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
95.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
11 yrs newer than MA
1944Lowest
20 yrs older than MA
1979Highest
15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minLowest
6% above MA
33 min
13% above MA
35 minHighest
22% above MA
Work from home
11%±3.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
34%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
13.9%±5.3
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #85 of 282 in MA #47 of 282 in MA #120 of 282 in MA
School district Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth Marblehead Halifax
High school in town Bristol County Agricultural High Marblehead High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.9Highest
10.7Lowest
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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.