What stands out worked out from the figures below

Enfield has the most affordable homes ($253k median).

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	Enfield	Fairhaven
People
Population	41,090Highest	15,903Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+0.3% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.7±1.9Lowest 5% above U.S.	48.5±3.4Highest 25% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Enfield and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	32.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Enfield and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,404±$5kLowest 12% above U.S.	$95,965±$19kHighest 19% above U.S.
	Fairhaven and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$252,900±$7kLowest 24% below U.S.	$446,700±$19kHighest 34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,574±$83Highest 11% above U.S.	$1,118±$79Lowest 21% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,360Highest 72% above U.S.	$3,566Lowest 14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.1%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fairhaven and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3% U.S.: 12.5%	8.3% U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S.	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	14.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Enfield 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	#123 of 149 in CT	#126 of 282 in MA
School district	Capitol Region Education Council · Enfield School District	Fairhaven
High school in town	Enfield High School	Fairhaven High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	11.4Lowest
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.