Compare towns

Halifax vs Dover 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 affordable homes ($482k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).

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.

MeasureHalifaxDoverDighton
People
Population
7,748
5,930Lowest
8,193Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+14.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.9±4.7Lowest
5% above MA
44.9±2.3Highest
12% above MA
42.7±2.9
7% above MA
Dover and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.2%±5.9
MA: 19.4%
26%±5.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
21%±4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Dover and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.8%±3.6Highest
MA: 17.9%
16.7%±2.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
17.5%±3.5
MA: 17.9%
Halifax and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.1%
MA: 47.3%
84.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
35.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±1.8
MA: 7.9%
7.2%±2.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.2%±2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Dover and Halifax 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
$250,001Highest
140% above MA
$136,646±$19k
31% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$481,500±$51kLowest
14% below MA
$1,340,300±$117kHighest
138% above MA
$501,900±$47k
11% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,804±$375
about the MA average
$2,917±$2kHighest
66% above MA
$1,405±$192Lowest
20% below MA
Dover and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,840
14% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$6,452Lowest
8% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.6%±37.4Highest
MA: 51.8%
20%±100
MA: 51.8%
11.8%±16.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Halifax and Dover 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%
2.7%
MA: 10%
2.9%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.5%
MA: 62.5%
97.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
90.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
15 yrs newer than MA
1970Lowest
6 yrs newer than MA
1975
11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
22% above MA
35 min
19% above MA
31 minLowest
6% above MA
Work from home
13.9%±5.3
MA: 18.6%
34.2%±6.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
11%±3.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #120 of 282 in MA #1 of 282 in MA #85 of 282 in MA
School district Halifax Dover · Dover-Sherborn Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth
High school in town None in town Dover-Sherborn Regional High Bristol County Agricultural High
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.8Lowest
11.9Highest
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.