Compare towns
Taunton vs Wareham vs Chicopee vs Dighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Taunton has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
Wareham has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Chicopee has the most affordable homes ($275k median).
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 | Taunton | Wareham | Chicopee | Dighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 60,433Highest |
23,302 |
55,295 |
8,193Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±1.3Lowest about the MA average |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
42.7±2.9 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
21%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Taunton and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15%±1.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
17.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.9% MA: 47.3% |
27.1% MA: 47.3% |
22.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,283±$7k 24% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$62,615±$6kLowest 40% below MA |
$136,646±$19kHighest 31% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,800±$9k 25% below MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$274,500±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
$501,900±$47kHighest 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,324±$86 25% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,157±$50Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,405±$192 20% below MA |
| Wareham and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,344 28% below MA |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$3,847Lowest 36% below MA |
$6,452Highest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Taunton and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13% MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
17.3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
21 minLowest 27% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±1.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Wareham and Dighton 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 | #253 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA | #85 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical · Taunton | Wareham | Chicopee | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth |
| High school in town | Taunton High | Wareham Senior High | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Bristol County Agricultural High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.6Highest |
8.6Lowest |
11.2 |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.