Compare towns
Dennis vs Fairhaven vs Harwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dennis has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Fairhaven has the most kids (16.9% under 18).
Harwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Dennis | Fairhaven | Harwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,868 |
15,903Highest |
13,598Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3% MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.5±2Highest 49% above MA |
48.5±3.4Lowest 21% above MA |
58.6±1.5 47% above MA |
| Dennis and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.7%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Fairhaven and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.8%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.8%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Dennis and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% MA: 47.3% |
32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dennis and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,154±$10kLowest 15% below MA |
$95,965±$19k 8% below MA |
$96,966±$13kHighest 7% below MA |
| Harwich and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $627,100±$28k 12% above MA |
$446,700±$19kLowest 21% below MA |
$658,600±$26kHighest 17% above MA |
| Harwich and Dennis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$260 19% below MA |
$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,017±$738Highest 14% above MA |
| Harwich and Dennis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,877Lowest 52% below MA |
$3,566 40% below MA |
$4,189Highest 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±9.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.7%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Dennis and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 17% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
25 min 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5 MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±4.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Harwich and Dennis 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 | #238 of 282 in MA | #126 of 282 in MA | #157 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dennis-Yarmouth | Fairhaven | Monomoy Regional School District · Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | None in town | Fairhaven High | Monomoy Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
11.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.