Compare towns
Fairhaven vs Spencer vs Upton 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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Spencer has the most renters (37% rent).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Middleborough has the youngest population (median age 43.4).
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 | Spencer | Upton | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,903 |
12,008 |
8,189Lowest |
24,505Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.5±3.4 21% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
43.4±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
| Spencer and Fairhaven 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% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Fairhaven 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% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Spencer 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±$19k 8% below MA |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$97,056±$7k 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,700±$19k 21% below MA |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$468,700±$18k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,118±$79 37% below MA |
$1,078±$161 39% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,706±$72Highest 3% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,023 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
57.2%±11.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Middleborough and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
76.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 18% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Spencer 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fairhaven | Spencer-E Brookfield | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Fairhaven High | David Prouty High | Blackstone Valley | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
9.9Lowest |
11.2 |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.