Compare towns
Fairhaven vs Mendon vs Spencer
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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Spencer has the most renters (37% 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 | Mendon | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,903Highest |
6,325Lowest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.5±3.4 21% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
| Spencer 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% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Fairhaven 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% |
46.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Spencer 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 |
$132,256±$33kHighest 27% above MA |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
| Mendon 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±$19k 21% below MA |
$616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,118±$79 37% below MA |
$1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$7,213Highest 20% above MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% MA: 10% |
7.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 4% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Mendon and Spencer 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fairhaven | Mendon-Upton | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Fairhaven High | None in town | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| 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.