Compare towns
Acushnet vs Fairhaven vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acushnet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
Fairhaven has the most renters (25.6% rent).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,624 |
15,903Highest |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.8 15% above MA |
48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| 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% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend 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% |
24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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 |
$95,965±$19k 8% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Townsend 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 |
$446,700±$19kHighest 21% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% 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 |
$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
| Townsend 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 |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.4%±15.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Fairhaven and Townsend 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acushnet | Fairhaven | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Fairhaven High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.