Compare towns
Fairhaven vs Hampden vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairhaven has the oldest housing (typical home built 1952).
Hampden has the most homeowners (94.9%).
Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.
| Measure | Fairhaven | Hampden | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,903 |
4,946Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.5±3.4 21% above MA |
50.9±3.3Highest 27% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
| Hampden and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
26.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hampden 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Hampden and Northbridge 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 8% below MA |
$104,536±$16k about the MA average |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
| Northbridge and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,700±$19k 21% below MA |
$358,200±$16kLowest 36% below MA |
$448,600±$15kHighest 20% below MA |
| Northbridge and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,132±$107 36% below MA |
$1,207±$102Highest 31% below MA |
| Northbridge and Hampden 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 |
$6,181Highest 3% above MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge and Fairhaven 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% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.4%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northbridge 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 | #199 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fairhaven | Hampden-Wilbraham | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Fairhaven High | None in town | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | 10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.