What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

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	Hancock
People
Population	15,903Highest	752Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA	47.1±11.1Lowest 18% above MA
	Fairhaven and Hancock 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%	19.1%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hancock and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	27.3%±5.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hancock 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%	35.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.5%±3.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hancock 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±$19kLowest 8% below MA	$96,250±$26kHighest 7% below MA
	Hancock 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±$19kHighest 21% below MA	$375,500±$21kLowest 33% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA	$1,268±$415Highest 28% below MA
	Hancock and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,566Highest 40% below MA	$1,018Lowest 83% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.1%±14 MA: 51.8%	51.1%±36.3 MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	8.3%Lowest MA: 10%	10.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA	1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	22 minLowest 25% below MA
Work from home	11.4%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	10.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Fairhaven and Hancock 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	—
School district	Fairhaven	Hancock
High school in town	Fairhaven High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4	—
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.