Compare towns
Halifax vs Hanson vs Plainfield vs Dighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k 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.
| Measure | Halifax | Hanson | Plainfield | Dighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
10,660Highest |
1,314Lowest |
8,193 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
42.7±2.9 10% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Halifax and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$136,646±$19kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| Dighton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51k 45% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$501,900±$47k 51% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,405±$192 about the U.S. average |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,452 107% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.8%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | — | #85 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Whitman-Hanson | — | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | — | Bristol County Agricultural High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
| 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.