Compare towns
Fairhaven vs Lenox vs Wareham vs Northbridge
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1952).
Lenox has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
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 | Lenox | Wareham | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,903 |
5,079Lowest |
23,302Highest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.5±3.4 21% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.5% MA: 47.3% |
52.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Lenox 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 |
$106,080±$31k about the MA average |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
| Northbridge and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,700±$19k 21% below MA |
$466,700±$43kHighest 17% below MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Lenox and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,118±$79 37% below MA |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$5,299Highest 12% below MA |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Wareham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% MA: 10% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
23 minLowest 22% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Lenox and Northbridge 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 | #90 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fairhaven | Lenox | Wareham | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Fairhaven High | Lenox Memorial High | Wareham Senior High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
7.6Lowest |
8.6 |
10.8 |
| 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.