Compare towns
Fairhaven vs Newfields vs Acushnet vs Northbridge
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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Acushnet has the most affordable homes ($436k 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 | Newfields | Acushnet | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,903 |
2,023Lowest |
10,624 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.5±3.4Highest 25% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
46±2.8 18% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Fairhaven and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairhaven and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Northbridge 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 19% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$89,503±$9kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,700±$19k 34% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$436,400±$34kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,118±$79Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,170±$354 17% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,566Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,647 49% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acushnet and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #126 of 282 in MA | — | #118 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fairhaven | Newfields School District | Acushnet | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Fairhaven High | None in town | None in town | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | — | 10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 7 photos → | 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.