Compare towns
Fairhaven vs Ware vs Mattapoisett
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 housing (typical home built 1952).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Mattapoisett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Ware | Mattapoisett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,903Highest |
10,048 |
6,634Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.5±3.4 21% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
57.2±2.3Highest 43% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Fairhaven 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.6%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Mattapoisett 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
57.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Mattapoisett 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$130,241±$24kHighest 25% above MA |
| Mattapoisett 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 21% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$681,600±$49kHighest 21% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,118±$79 37% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,597±$422Highest 9% below MA |
| Mattapoisett and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$6,588Highest 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Mattapoisett and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #65 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fairhaven | Ware | Mattapoisett · Old Rochester |
| High school in town | Fairhaven High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Old Rochester Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
11.1Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| 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.