Compare towns
Acushnet vs Ashby vs Fairhaven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acushnet has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Ashby has the most people working from home (17.8%).
Fairhaven has the most renters (25.6% rent).
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 | Acushnet | Ashby | Fairhaven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,624 |
3,211Lowest |
15,903Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.8Lowest 15% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
48.5±3.4 21% above MA |
| Ashby and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acushnet and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Fairhaven and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Acushnet and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,503±$9kLowest 14% below MA |
$115,598±$9kHighest 11% above MA |
$95,965±$19k 8% below MA |
| Ashby and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,400±$34k 22% below MA |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$446,700±$19kHighest 21% below MA |
| Fairhaven and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,170±$354 34% below MA |
$1,200±$484Highest 32% below MA |
$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
| Ashby and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,647 22% below MA |
$6,034Highest about the MA average |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.4%±15.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
| Acushnet and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby and Fairhaven 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 | #118 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA | #126 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acushnet | North Middlesex | Fairhaven |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Fairhaven High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.