Compare towns
Fairhaven vs Washington 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 most renters (25.6% rent).
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
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 | Washington | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,903 |
526Lowest |
24,505Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3% MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.5±3.4 21% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
43.4±2.1Lowest 9% 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%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Middleborough 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% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.1% MA: 47.3% |
32%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Middleborough 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±$19k 8% below MA |
$95,278±$12kLowest 8% 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 |
$370,700±$32kLowest 34% 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±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
— | $1,706±$72Highest 3% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$4,381 27% below MA |
$6,023Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.2%±11.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Middleborough and Fairhaven 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% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
76.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Middleborough and Washington 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 | — | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fairhaven | — | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Fairhaven High | — | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| 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.