Compare towns
Acushnet vs Gardner 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%).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Fairhaven has the highest household income ($96k).
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 | Gardner | Fairhaven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,624Lowest |
21,148Highest |
15,903 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.8 15% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% 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%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acushnet and Gardner 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% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest 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% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner 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 |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% 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 |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% 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 |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,118±$79 37% below MA |
| Acushnet and Fairhaven 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 |
$4,150 31% below MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.4%±15.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #126 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acushnet | Gardner | Fairhaven |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | Fairhaven High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.