Compare towns
Acushnet vs Brookline vs Putney vs Fairhaven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acushnet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Fairhaven has the highest household income ($96k).
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 | Brookline | Putney | Fairhaven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,624 |
531Lowest |
2,622 |
15,903Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.8 18% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
48.5±3.4Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Fairhaven and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Acushnet and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,503±$9k 11% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$95,965±$19kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Fairhaven and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,400±$34k 31% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$446,700±$19kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| 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 17% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,118±$79 21% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,647 49% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$3,566Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.1%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acushnet and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #126 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acushnet | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.