What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairhaven has the shortest commute (29 min average).

Sterling has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fairhaven	Sterling
People
Population	15,903Highest	8,183Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.5±3.4Lowest 21% above MA	51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA
	Sterling and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sterling 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%	22.9%±4Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Fairhaven and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	48.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Sterling and Fairhaven 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	$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA
	Sterling 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±$19kLowest 21% below MA	$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA
	Sterling 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 37% below MA	$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,566Lowest 40% below MA	$6,757Highest 13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.1%±14Highest MA: 51.8%	46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Fairhaven and Sterling 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%	6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	34 minHighest 18% above MA
Work from home	11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Sterling 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	#135 of 282 in MA
School district	Fairhaven	Wachusett
High school in town	Fairhaven High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.