Compare towns
Fairhaven vs Plainfield 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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).
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 | Plainfield | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,903 |
15,141Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.5±3.4Highest 25% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Plainfield 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% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Northbridge 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 34% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,118±$79Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,566Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$4,821Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northbridge 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fairhaven | Plainfield School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Fairhaven High | Plainfield High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
10.3Lowest |
10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.