Compare towns
Halifax vs Shirley 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%).
Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Shirley | Dighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748 |
6,976Lowest |
8,193Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
42.7±2.9 7% above MA |
| Shirley and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Dighton 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% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley 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% |
36.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley 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 |
$122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
$136,646±$19kHighest 31% above MA |
| Dighton and Shirley 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 |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$501,900±$47kHighest 11% 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±$375Highest about the MA average |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
$1,405±$192Lowest 20% below MA |
| Halifax and Shirley 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 |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$6,452 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley 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% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Shirley 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #85 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Ayer Shirley School District | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bristol County Agricultural High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
| 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.