Compare towns
Fairhaven vs North Reading vs Middleborough
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).
North Reading has the most people working from home (26.1%).
Middleborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
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 | North Reading | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,903 |
15,765Lowest |
24,505Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA |
43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA |
43.4±2.1 9% above MA |
| Fairhaven and Middleborough 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% |
22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| North Reading and Middleborough 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% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Fairhaven and Middleborough 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% |
56.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| North Reading and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,965±$19kLowest 8% below MA |
$147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$97,056±$7k 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,700±$19kLowest 21% below MA |
$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA |
$468,700±$18k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,706±$72 3% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$6,023 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±14Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.2%±11.4 MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Middleborough 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
76.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #126 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fairhaven | North Reading | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Fairhaven High | North Reading High | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
10.1Lowest |
11.3 |
| 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.