Compare towns
Fairhaven vs Hooksett vs Acushnet 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 oldest population (median age 48.5).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Acushnet has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Middleborough has the most expensive homes ($469k median).
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 | Hooksett | Acushnet | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,903 |
15,057 |
10,624Lowest |
24,505Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.5±3.4Highest 25% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46±2.8 18% above U.S. |
43.4±2.1 12% above U.S. |
| Fairhaven and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Acushnet and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairhaven and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,965±$19k 19% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$89,503±$9kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$97,056±$7k 20% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,700±$19k 34% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$436,400±$34k 31% above U.S. |
$468,700±$18kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Middleborough 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 21% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,170±$354 17% below U.S. |
$1,706±$72Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Middleborough and Hooksett 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. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,647 49% above U.S. |
$6,023 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.2%±11.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acushnet 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middleborough and Hooksett 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #118 of 282 in MA | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fairhaven | Hooksett School District | Acushnet | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Fairhaven High | None in town | None in town | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | — | 11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.