Compare towns

Dighton vs Stoneham vs Freetown

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%).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Freetown has the highest household income ($144k).

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.

MeasureDightonStonehamFreetown
People
Population
8,193Lowest
23,355Highest
9,285
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+14.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+8.4%
MA: +7.4%
+3.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.7±2.9Highest
7% above MA
42.2±2.2
6% above MA
40.9±3.2Lowest
about the MA average
Dighton and Stoneham 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%
20.8%±2.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
21.1%±3.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
Freetown 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%
20.4%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
17.8%±2.2
MA: 17.9%
Stoneham and Freetown 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%
55.9%Highest
MA: 47.3%
40%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±2
MA: 7.9%
4.7%±1.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±1.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Stoneham 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
$113,964±$10kLowest
10% above MA
$143,884±$15kHighest
38% above MA
Freetown 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±$47kLowest
11% below MA
$671,900±$26kHighest
20% above MA
$518,200±$30k
8% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,405±$192Lowest
20% below MA
$2,035±$142Highest
15% above MA
$1,891±$363
7% above MA
Stoneham and Freetown 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
$6,523Highest
9% above MA
$5,188Lowest
13% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
11.8%±16.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
41.9%±8.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
39.2%±12.1
MA: 51.8%
Stoneham and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.9%Lowest
MA: 10%
5.4%Highest
MA: 10%
3.1%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
71%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
86.1%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
11 yrs newer than MA
1964Lowest
same as MA
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
6% above MA
28 minLowest
4% below MA
32 minHighest
11% above MA
Work from home
11%±3.9
MA: 18.6%
24.6%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
7.7%±2.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #85 of 282 in MA #117 of 282 in MA #161 of 282 in MA
School district Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth Stoneham Freetown-Lakeville
High school in town Bristol County Agricultural High Stoneham High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.9Highest
10.7Lowest
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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.