Compare towns
Buzzards Bay vs Fairhaven vs West Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buzzards Bay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Fairhaven has the most kids (16.9% under 18).
West Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
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 | Buzzards Bay | Fairhaven | West Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,909Lowest |
15,903Highest |
3,859 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±5.9 36% above MA |
48.5±3.4Lowest 21% above MA |
58.5±3.2Highest 46% above MA |
| West Brookfield and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
13%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Fairhaven and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.3%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.9%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| West Brookfield and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32.5% MA: 47.3% |
34%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,388±$12kLowest 9% below MA |
$95,965±$19kHighest 8% below MA |
$95,613±$12k 8% below MA |
| Fairhaven and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $454,500±$28kHighest 19% below MA |
$446,700±$19k 21% below MA |
$354,000±$21kLowest 37% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,484±$601Highest 16% below MA |
$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,236±$271 30% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,566 40% below MA |
$4,260Highest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±20.3 MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.3%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Fairhaven and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
42 minHighest 44% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±15Highest MA: 18.6% |
| West Brookfield and Buzzards Bay 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 | — | #126 of 282 in MA | #162 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Fairhaven | Quaboag Regional |
| High school 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.