Compare towns
Halifax vs Milton vs Reading 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%).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k median).
Reading has the most renters (17.6% rent).
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 | Milton | Reading | Dighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
28,587Highest |
25,612 |
8,193 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
42.7±2.9 7% above MA |
| Reading 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% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
21%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Milton and Reading 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% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
35.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$136,646±$19k 31% above MA |
| Milton and Reading 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 |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$501,900±$47k 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,474±$281 16% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,405±$192Lowest 20% below MA |
| Reading 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 |
$9,677Highest 61% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$6,452Lowest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Milton 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% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Milton 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 | #55 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #85 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Milton | Reading | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth |
| High school in town | None in town | Milton High | Reading Memorial High | Bristol County Agricultural High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4Highest |
12.1 |
11.9Lowest |
| 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.