What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashfield has the most people working from home (24%).

Fairhaven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ashfield	Fairhaven
People
Population	1,893Lowest	15,903Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+0.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA	48.5±3.4Lowest 21% above MA
Kids under 18	12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%	16.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Fairhaven and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%	24.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52%Highest MA: 47.3%	32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA	$95,965±$19kHighest 8% below MA
	Fairhaven and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA	$446,700±$19kHighest 21% below MA
	Fairhaven and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA	$1,118±$79Highest 37% below MA
	Fairhaven and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,197Highest 13% below MA	$3,566Lowest 40% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8%	51.1%±14Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ashfield and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.1%Highest MA: 10%	8.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest about the MA average	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	24%±6Highest MA: 18.6%	11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#126 of 282 in MA
School district	Mohawk Trail	Fairhaven
High school in town	None in town	Fairhaven High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.