Compare towns
Halifax vs Stoneham vs Dighton vs Berkley
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 kids (22.2% under 18).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).
Berkley has the highest household income ($144k).
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 | Stoneham | Dighton | Berkley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
23,355Highest |
8,193 |
6,829Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
42.7±2.9 7% above MA |
43.4±4.1Highest 9% above MA |
| Berkley 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% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±4 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Berkley 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% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham 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% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Berkley 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 |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$136,646±$19k 31% above MA |
$144,205±$49kHighest 39% above MA |
| Berkley and Dighton 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 |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$501,900±$47k 11% below MA |
$511,200±$45k 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,405±$192Lowest 20% below MA |
— |
| Stoneham 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 |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$6,452 8% above MA |
$6,018Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Halifax and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% MA: 10% |
5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.1% MA: 62.5% |
96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
11%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #120 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #85 of 282 in MA | #155 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Stoneham | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth | Berkley |
| High school in town | None in town | Stoneham High | Bristol County Agricultural High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
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.