Compare towns
Fairhaven vs Athol vs Westport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairhaven has the most people working from home (11.4%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Westport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Fairhaven | Athol | Westport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,903 |
12,011Lowest |
16,484Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.5±3.4 21% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
50.7±1.8Highest 27% above MA |
| Westport and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Fairhaven and Westport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,965±$19k 8% below MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$96,000±$9kHighest 8% below MA |
| Westport and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,700±$19k 21% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$521,900±$38kHighest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,425±$356Highest 19% below MA |
| Westport and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,566 40% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,719Highest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±14Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.9%±19.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Westport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.4%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Fairhaven and Athol 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #195 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fairhaven | Athol-Royalston | Westport |
| High school in town | Fairhaven High | Athol High | Westport Middle-High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.6Highest |
11.5 |
| 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.