What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairhaven has the most expensive homes ($447k median).

Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).

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	Fairhaven	Brookfield
People
Population	15,903Highest	3,460Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+1.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.5±3.4Lowest 21% above MA	52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA
	Brookfield and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4%	13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Fairhaven and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Brookfield and Fairhaven 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%	28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Brookfield and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,965±$19kHighest 8% below MA	$81,250±$37kLowest 22% below MA
	Fairhaven and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$446,700±$19kHighest 21% below MA	$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,118±$79Highest 37% below MA	$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA
	Fairhaven and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,566Lowest 40% below MA	$5,092Highest 15% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.1%±14Highest MA: 51.8%	50.7%±11.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Fairhaven and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Lowest MA: 10%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	32 minHighest 11% above MA
Work from home	11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	12%±5.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Brookfield 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	#126 of 282 in MA	#109 of 282 in MA
School district	Fairhaven	Brookfield
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

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.