Compare towns
Halifax vs Hatfield vs Dighton vs Ashburnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).
Ashburnham has the most affordable homes ($391k 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.
| Measure | Halifax | Hatfield | Dighton | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
3,325Lowest |
8,193Highest |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
42.7±2.9 7% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Hatfield 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% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±4 MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Halifax 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% |
23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield and Halifax 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% |
48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Hatfield 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 14% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$136,646±$19kHighest 31% above MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
| Dighton and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$501,900±$47kHighest 11% below MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
| Dighton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,405±$192 20% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
| Ashburnham 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 |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$6,452 8% above MA |
$6,046 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Halifax 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.1% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #120 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA | #85 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Hatfield | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | Smith Academy | Bristol County Agricultural High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 6.1Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.