Compare towns
Halifax vs Oakham vs Hanson 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 people working from home (13.9%).
Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k 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 | Oakham | Hanson | Dighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
1,639Lowest |
10,660Highest |
8,193 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
42.7±2.9 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
21%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
17.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham 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% MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 14% above MA |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$136,646±$19kHighest 31% above MA |
| 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 14% below MA |
$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$501,900±$47k 11% below MA |
| 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 about the MA average |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,405±$192 20% below MA |
| 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 14% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$6,452 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson 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% |
4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
89%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Halifax and Dighton 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 | Quabbin | Whitman-Hanson | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.