Compare towns
Fairhaven vs Hampton Beach vs Middleborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairhaven has the most affordable homes ($447k median).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Middleborough has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Hampton Beach | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,903 |
2,605Lowest |
24,505Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.5±3.4 25% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
43.4±2.1Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middleborough 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middleborough 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±$19k 19% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$97,056±$7kHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Middleborough 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±$19kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$468,700±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,118±$79Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,706±$72Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,566Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$6,023 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.2%±11.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Middleborough 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #126 of 282 in MA | — | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fairhaven | — | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Fairhaven High | — | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.