Compare towns
Halifax vs Wareham vs Dighton vs Rutland
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%).
Wareham has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).
Rutland has the most kids (26.4% under 18).
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 | Wareham | Dighton | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
23,302Highest |
8,193 |
9,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+13.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
42.7±2.9 7% above MA |
41.4±2.5Lowest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±4 MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rutland 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% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham 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% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.9% MA: 47.3% |
42%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$136,646±$19k 31% above MA |
$145,707±$28kHighest 40% above MA |
| Rutland 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±$51k 14% below MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$501,900±$47kHighest 11% below MA |
$462,800±$33k 18% 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 |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,405±$192 20% below MA |
$1,078±$170Lowest 39% below MA |
| Halifax and Wareham 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 |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$6,452 8% above MA |
$5,657 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±26.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Wareham and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% MA: 10% |
6.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
11%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Rutland 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | #85 of 282 in MA | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Wareham | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Wareham Senior High | Bristol County Agricultural High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6Lowest |
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.