Compare towns
Dighton vs Ogunquit vs Needham vs Somerset
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 the youngest population (median age 42.7).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Somerset has the most affordable homes ($419k median).
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 | Ogunquit | Needham | Somerset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,193 |
1,379Lowest |
32,459Highest |
18,298 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±2.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
47±2.2 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.3%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Somerset 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. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$112,677±$6kLowest 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $501,900±$47k 51% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$418,800±$18kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,405±$192 about the U.S. average |
— | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,271±$93Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,452 107% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,977 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.8%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±12.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Somerset and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Needham 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #132 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth | — | Needham | Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset |
| High school in town | Bristol County Agricultural High | — | Needham High | Somerset Berkley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 11.9Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| 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.