What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairhaven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.3%).

Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).

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	Washington
People
Population	15,903Highest	526Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.5±3.4Lowest 21% above MA	56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA
	Washington and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4%	13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Fairhaven and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Fairhaven and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,965±$19kHighest 8% below MA	$95,278±$12kLowest 8% below MA
	Fairhaven and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$446,700±$19kHighest 21% below MA	$370,700±$32kLowest 34% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,118±$79 37% below MA	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,566Lowest 40% below MA	$4,381Highest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.1%±14Highest MA: 51.8%	0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Fairhaven and Washington 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%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	92.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	25 minLowest 13% below MA
Work from home	11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	12.9%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Washington 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	—
School district	Fairhaven	—
High school in town	Fairhaven High	—
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.