Compare towns
Halifax vs Chilmark vs Dighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Chilmark has the most expensive homes ($1895k median).
Dighton has the shortest commute (31 min average).
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 | Halifax | Chilmark | Dighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748 |
1,578Lowest |
8,193Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+14.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
42.7±2.9 7% above MA |
| Chilmark and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2 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 | $118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$136,646±$19k 31% above MA |
| Chilmark and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$501,900±$47k 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,405±$192Lowest 20% below MA |
| Chilmark and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,452 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Halifax and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.1%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Highest MA: 18.6% |
11%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Chilmark and Halifax 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | — | #85 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Up-Island Regional | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bristol County Agricultural High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
| 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.