Compare towns

Acushnet vs Fall River 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 homeowners (85.3%).
Fall River has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Fairhaven has the most people working from home (11.4%).

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.

MeasureAcushnetFall RiverFairhaven
People
Population
10,624Lowest
94,082Highest
15,903
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.5%
MA: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+0.3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
46±2.8
15% above MA
39.3±1.2Lowest
about the MA average
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%±3.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.9%±1.2
MA: 19.4%
16.9%±2.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Acushnet and Fall River 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%
16.1%±0.9Lowest
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%
MA: 47.3%
16.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
32.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
4.1%±0.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.3%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Fall River 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±$9k
14% below MA
$56,673±$3kLowest
45% below MA
$95,965±$19kHighest
8% below MA
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
22% below MA
$395,500±$11kLowest
30% below MA
$446,700±$19kHighest
21% 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±$354Highest
34% below MA
$1,155±$27
34% below MA
$1,118±$79Lowest
37% below MA
Acushnet and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,647Highest
22% below MA
$3,953
34% below MA
$3,566Lowest
40% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65.4%±15.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
52.5%±3.3
MA: 51.8%
51.1%±14Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Acushnet and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6%Lowest
MA: 10%
19.6%Highest
MA: 10%
8.3%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
35.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
74.4%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Highest
4 yrs newer than MA
1945Lowest
19 yrs older than MA
1952
12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% below MA
26 minLowest
11% below MA
29 minHighest
about the MA average
Work from home
10.3%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
7.1%±1.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
11.4%±3.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
Fairhaven and Acushnet 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 #262 of 282 in MA #126 of 282 in MA
School district Acushnet Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical Fairhaven
High school in town None in town B M C Durfee High Fairhaven High
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.3Lowest
11.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.