Compare towns
Dighton vs Newfields vs Halifax 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%).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
Hanson has the most renters (11% rent).
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 | Newfields | Halifax | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,193 |
2,023Lowest |
7,748 |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±2.9 10% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9Highest 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%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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±$19k 69% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11kLowest 47% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $501,900±$47k 51% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$481,500±$51kLowest 45% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,405±$192Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Hanson 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,840 119% above U.S. |
$6,402Lowest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.8%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Newfields School District | Halifax | 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.