Compare towns
Fairhaven vs Hampton Beach vs Northbridge
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 homeowners (74.4%).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% 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 | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,903 |
2,605Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.5±3.4 25% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge 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 |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Northbridge 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. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Northbridge 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±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,566Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% 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% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Northbridge 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% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #126 of 282 in MA | — | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fairhaven | — | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Fairhaven High | — | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | 10.8Lowest |
| 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.