Compare towns
Fairhaven vs Salem vs Acushnet
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 highest household income ($96k).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Acushnet has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
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 | Salem | Acushnet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,903 |
44,795Highest |
10,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
46±2.8 15% above MA |
| 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%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Acushnet and Fairhaven 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% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3.7 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,965±$19kHighest 8% below MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$89,503±$9k 14% below MA |
| Fairhaven and Acushnet 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 |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
$436,400±$34kLowest 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,170±$354 34% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$6,114Highest about the MA average |
$4,647 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±14Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
65.4%±15.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Acushnet and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.4%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #126 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #118 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fairhaven | Salem | Acushnet |
| High school in town | Fairhaven High | Salem High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
9.8Lowest |
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| 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.