What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).

Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dighton	Townsend
People
Population	8,193Lowest	9,100Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.7±2.9Highest 7% above MA	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average
	Dighton and Townsend 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%±3.2 MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9%	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Dighton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Townsend 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±$19kHighest 31% above MA	$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA
	Dighton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$501,900±$47kHighest 11% below MA	$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA
	Dighton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,405±$192Lowest 20% below MA	$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA
	Townsend and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,452Highest 8% above MA	$6,031Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	82%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 6% above MA	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	11%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Dighton and Townsend 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	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth	North Middlesex
High school in town	Bristol County Agricultural High	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.