Compare towns
Fairhaven vs Milton 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 population (median age 48.5).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k median).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% 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 | Milton | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,903Lowest |
28,587Highest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Fairhaven and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Milton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,965±$19kLowest 8% below MA |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,700±$19kLowest 21% below MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,474±$281Highest 16% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Milton and Northbridge 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 |
$9,677Highest 61% above MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge 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% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #126 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fairhaven | Milton | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Fairhaven High | Milton High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
12.4Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.