What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Gardner 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fairhaven	Gardner
People
Population	15,903Lowest	21,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA	43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA
	Fairhaven and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Gardner 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%	19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Gardner 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	$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$446,700±$19kHighest 21% below MA	$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,118±$79Highest 37% below MA	$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA
	Fairhaven and Gardner 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	$4,150Highest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.1%±14Highest MA: 51.8%	49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Fairhaven and Gardner 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%	13.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA	1954Highest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	31 minHighest 5% above MA
Work from home	11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Gardner 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	#273 of 282 in MA
School district	Fairhaven	Gardner
High school in town	Fairhaven High	Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	13.5Highest
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.