[2] The town is located on the western shore of the Taunton River in the southeastern part of the state.

[3]: 16 Dighton was originally part of Taunton's South Purchase and other surrounding towns.

However, in 1799, that land on the east bank of the river was annexed by Berkley, thus giving that town the claim of being the home of the rock.

[6] The customs official ordered the ship's cargo impounded while he departed for Newport for assistance.

[6] While he was gone, forty local men with blackened faces stole the cargo, ran the ship aground, and drilled holes in the hull to protest British tax policies.

[6] During the time of the American Revolutionary War, Dighton gave refuge to several refugees from Newport, Rhode Island who had fled the British occupation there.

[3]: 116 As it was located at the beginning of the tidewater of the river, Dighton was a shipbuilding community, and even had status as a port of call.

Thomas Coram built Dighton's first shipyard on the west side of the Taunton River.

[3]: 233  With time, however, many of these industries left, leaving the town as a rural suburban community with some small farms.

In 2012, Dighton celebrated its Tricentennial with town selectmen donning historic costumes and crossing the Taunton River to Ferry Landing.

The highest point in the town is in its northwest corner, where the elevation rises above 236 feet (72 m) above sea level.

[23] It was purchased in June 2009, and includes two miles of old railroad bed which may be adapted into a walking and biking path, picnic areas, a small boat launch, and fishing.

Dighton is governed by an open town meeting led by a board of selectmen.

Currently serving on the Board of Selectmen are: Leonard Hull (Chairman), Peter Caron (Clerk), and Nicole Mello.

Dighton has a conservation area and a small park next to the town hall near the intersection of Center Street and Route 138.

Dighton is located in the Fifth Bristol state representative district, which includes Somerset and parts of Swansea and Taunton.

On the national level, the town is part of Massachusetts Congressional District 4, which is represented by Jake Auchincloss.

The school itself is located in North Dighton, mere yards away from the Rehoboth town line.

The school operates a large farm along the banks of the Taunton River at its Center Street location.