Compare towns
Middleton vs Temple vs Dighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
Temple has the most people working from home (16.9%).
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 | Middleton | Temple | Dighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,816Highest |
1,363Lowest |
8,193 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
42.7±2.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Temple and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dighton and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middleton and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dighton and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$136,646±$19k 69% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$501,900±$47k 51% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,405±$192 about the U.S. average |
| Middleton and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
$6,983 124% above U.S. |
$6,452Lowest 107% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.8%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Temple and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Temple and Middleton 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | — | #85 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | Contoocook Valley 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 |
U.S. 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.