Compare towns
Acushnet vs Fairhaven vs Middleton
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).
Fairhaven has the most renters (25.6% rent).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Fairhaven | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,624 |
15,903Highest |
9,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.8 15% above MA |
48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA |
43.1±2Lowest 8% 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%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Acushnet and Middleton 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% |
24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest 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% |
32.5% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,503±$9kLowest 14% below MA |
$95,965±$19k 8% below MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,400±$34kLowest 22% below MA |
$446,700±$19k 21% below MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,170±$354 34% below MA |
$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,407±$284Highest 20% below MA |
| Middleton 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 |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.4%±15.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest 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% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Middleton 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 | #126 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acushnet | Fairhaven | Middleton |
| High school in town | None in town | Fairhaven High | None in town |
| 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.