What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairhaven has the most people working from home (11.4%).

Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).

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	Dudley
People
Population	15,903Highest	11,929Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA	40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Dudley 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%	16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,965±$19kHighest 8% below MA	$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA
	Fairhaven and Dudley 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	$392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA	$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA
	Dudley and Fairhaven 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	$3,691Highest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.1%±14Highest MA: 51.8%	47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Fairhaven and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Highest MA: 10%	6.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	27 minLowest 6% below MA
Work from home	11.4%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Fairhaven and Dudley 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	#142 of 282 in MA
School district	Fairhaven	Dudley-Charlton Reg
High school in town	Fairhaven High	Shepherd Hill Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	14.3Highest
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.