Compare towns
Fairhaven vs Hooksett vs New Bedford
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%).
New Bedford has the most renters (59.7% rent).
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 | New Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,903 |
15,057Lowest |
100,998Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.5±3.4Highest 25% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
37±0.8Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,965±$19k 19% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$56,981±$3kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Hooksett 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 34% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$357,300±$6kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Fairhaven and Hooksett 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±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,137±$26 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,566Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,338 39% 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% |
52.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| New Bedford and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #263 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fairhaven | Hooksett School District | New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Fairhaven High | None in town | New Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| 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.