Compare towns
Fairhaven vs Mashpee 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).
Mashpee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Mashpee | Acushnet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,903Highest |
15,384 |
10,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.5±3.4 21% above MA |
55.9±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
46±2.8Lowest 15% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Acushnet 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% |
33.1%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.5% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Mashpee 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±$19kHighest 8% below MA |
$95,299±$13k 8% below MA |
$89,503±$9kLowest 14% below MA |
| Fairhaven and Mashpee 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 |
$562,200±$29kHighest about the MA average |
$436,400±$34kLowest 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,776±$330Highest about the MA average |
$1,170±$354 34% below MA |
| Mashpee and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$3,762 37% below MA |
$4,647Highest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±14.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65.4%±15.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Acushnet and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.9% MA: 62.5% |
85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.4%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Mashpee 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 | #100 of 282 in MA | #118 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fairhaven | Mashpee | Acushnet |
| High school in town | Fairhaven High | Mashpee Middle-High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
9.6Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.