Compare towns
Fairhaven vs Ware 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 oldest population (median age 48.5).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Middleborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
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 | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,903 |
10,048Lowest |
24,505Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
43.4±2.1 9% above MA |
| Fairhaven and Middleborough 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Middleborough 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Fairhaven and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Ware 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$97,056±$7kHighest 7% below MA |
| Middleborough 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 |
$468,700±$18kHighest 17% below MA |
| Middleborough and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,118±$79 37% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,706±$72Highest 3% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$6,023Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±14Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.2%±11.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Middleborough 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% |
6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
76.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Middleborough 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 | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fairhaven | Ware | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Fairhaven High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.3 |
| 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.