What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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

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	East Hampton
People
Population	15,903Highest	12,925Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	48.5±3.4Highest 25% above U.S.	43.6±3.7Lowest 12% 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	16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.4%±3Highest 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+	24.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.8%±2.8Lowest 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+	32.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	39%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±1.8Highest 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	$95,965±$19kLowest 19% above U.S.	$124,577±$11kHighest 54% 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	$446,700±$19kHighest 34% above U.S.	$349,000±$14kLowest 5% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,118±$79Lowest 21% below U.S.	$1,393±$150Highest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,566Lowest 14% above U.S.	$6,681Highest 114% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.1%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48.7%±16.4Lowest 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	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	11.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.7%±2.4Highest 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	#126 of 282 in MA	#75 of 149 in CT
School district	Fairhaven	East Hampton School District
High school in town	Fairhaven High	East Hampton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	11.3Lowest
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.