What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairhaven has the most homeowners (74.4%).

Fall River has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

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	Fall River
People
Population	15,903Lowest	94,082Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA	39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	19.9%±1.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Fall River 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%	16.1%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Fall River 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	$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$446,700±$19kHighest 21% below MA	$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA	$1,155±$27Highest 34% below MA
	Fall River 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	$3,953Highest 34% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.1%±14Lowest MA: 51.8%	52.5%±3.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Fall River and Fairhaven 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%	19.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA	1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	26 minLowest 11% below MA
Work from home	11.4%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Fairhaven and Fall River 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	#262 of 282 in MA
School district	Fairhaven	Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Fairhaven High	B M C Durfee High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	11.3Lowest
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.