What stands out worked out from the figures below

East Hampton has the highest household income ($125k).

Fairhaven has the most expensive homes ($447k 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.

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

Measure	East Hampton	Fairhaven
People
Population	12,925Lowest	15,903Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+0.3% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.6±3.7Lowest 12% above U.S.	48.5±3.4Highest 25% above U.S.
	Fairhaven and East Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	East Hampton and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Fairhaven and East Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	East Hampton and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,577±$11kHighest 54% above U.S.	$95,965±$19kLowest 19% above U.S.
	East Hampton and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$349,000±$14kLowest 5% above U.S.	$446,700±$19kHighest 34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,393±$150Highest about the U.S. average	$1,118±$79Lowest 21% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,681Highest 114% above U.S.	$3,566Lowest 14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.1%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fairhaven and East Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	12.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	East Hampton 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	#75 of 149 in CT	#126 of 282 in MA
School district	East Hampton School District	Fairhaven
High school in town	East Hampton High School	Fairhaven High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	11.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.