Compare towns

Acushnet vs Douglas 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 affordable homes ($436k median).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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.

MeasureAcushnetDouglasFairhaven
People
Population
10,624
9,207Lowest
15,903Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.5%
MA: +7.4%
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+0.3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
46±2.8
15% above MA
44±2.6Lowest
10% above MA
48.5±3.4Highest
21% above MA
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%±3.9
MA: 19.4%
21.2%±3.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
16.9%±2.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Douglas and Acushnet 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%
15.4%±3.1Lowest
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%
41.7%Highest
MA: 47.3%
32.5%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±2.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.3%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Douglas and Acushnet 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
$152,267±$10kHighest
46% above MA
$95,965±$19k
8% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$436,400±$34kLowest
22% below MA
$470,600±$29kHighest
16% below MA
$446,700±$19k
21% below MA
Douglas and Fairhaven 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
$1,503±$697Highest
15% below MA
$1,118±$79Lowest
37% below MA
Douglas 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
$6,338Highest
6% above MA
$3,566Lowest
40% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65.4%±15.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
33.9%±17.4Lowest
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%
4.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
8.3%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
83.8%
MA: 62.5%
74.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
4 yrs newer than MA
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
1952Lowest
12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
4% below MA
34 minHighest
16% above MA
29 min
about the MA average
Work from home
10.3%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
20.9%±4.9Highest
MA: 18.6%
11.4%±3.3
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #118 of 282 in MA #177 of 282 in MA #126 of 282 in MA
School district Acushnet Douglas Fairhaven
High school in town None in town Douglas High School Fairhaven High
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.2Lowest
11.4Highest
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.