Compare towns
Acushnet vs Exeter 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 the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Fairhaven has the oldest population (median age 48.5).
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 | Exeter | Fairhaven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,624Lowest |
16,151Highest |
15,903 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.8 18% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above 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% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Acushnet and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairhaven and Exeter 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 11% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$95,965±$19k 19% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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±$34kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$446,700±$19k 34% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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 17% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,118±$79Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,647 49% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,566Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.1%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acushnet and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #118 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #126 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acushnet | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Fairhaven |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Fairhaven High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 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.