Compare towns

Pinehurst vs Acton vs Dighton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pinehurst has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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.

MeasurePinehurstActonDighton
People
Population
6,845Lowest
24,155Highest
8,193
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+9.6%
MA: +7.4%
+14.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±2Lowest
7% above MA
44.5±0.8Highest
11% above MA
42.7±2.9
7% above MA
Acton and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±4.1Lowest
MA: 19.4%
23.2%±2.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
21%±4
MA: 19.4%
Acton and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.1%±3.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
17.6%±1.7
MA: 17.9%
17.5%±3.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Pinehurst and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.2%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
79.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
35.9%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±1.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.9%±1.2
MA: 7.9%
4.2%±2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Pinehurst and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$146,250±$27k
41% above MA
$158,230±$14kHighest
52% above MA
$136,646±$19kLowest
31% above MA
Acton and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$623,800±$22k
11% above MA
$807,300±$20kHighest
44% above MA
$501,900±$47kLowest
11% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,946±$1k
10% above MA
$1,986±$155Highest
13% above MA
$1,405±$192Lowest
20% below MA
Acton and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,316Lowest
5% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$6,452
8% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32%±58.1
MA: 51.8%
47.7%±11.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
11.8%±16.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Acton and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.9%Lowest
MA: 10%
3.4%Highest
MA: 10%
2.9%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
74.9%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
90.1%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
8 yrs newer than MA
1974
10 yrs newer than MA
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
7% below MA
35 minHighest
19% above MA
31 min
6% above MA
Work from home
13.1%±3.2
MA: 18.6%
35.9%±4.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
11%±3.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #13 of 282 in MA #85 of 282 in MA
School district — Acton-Boxborough Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth
High school in town — Acton-Boxborough Regional High Bristol County Agricultural High
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.5Highest
11.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.