Compare towns
Fairhaven vs Hancock vs Wareham vs Acushnet
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 most renters (25.6% rent).
Hancock has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Acushnet has the most kids (20.3% 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 | Hancock | Wareham | Acushnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,903 |
752Lowest |
23,302Highest |
10,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.5±3.4 21% above MA |
47.1±11.1 18% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
46±2.8Lowest 15% above MA |
| Wareham 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% |
19.1%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Acushnet and Hancock 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% |
27.3%±5.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hancock and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.5% MA: 47.3% |
35.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1% MA: 47.3% |
26.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±3.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Acushnet 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 8% below MA |
$96,250±$26kHighest 7% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$89,503±$9kLowest 14% 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 |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$436,400±$34k 22% below MA |
| Fairhaven and Acushnet 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 |
$1,268±$415 28% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,170±$354 34% below MA |
| Wareham and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,566 40% below MA |
$1,018Lowest 83% below MA |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$4,647Highest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±14Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±36.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
65.4%±15.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Acushnet and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% MA: 10% |
10.6%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.8% MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
22 minLowest 25% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.4%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Wareham 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 | — | #272 of 282 in MA | #118 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fairhaven | Hancock | Wareham | Acushnet |
| High school in town | Fairhaven High | None in town | Wareham Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | 8.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.