Compare towns
Fairhaven vs Windham vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairhaven has the oldest population (median age 48.5).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
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 | Windham | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,903Lowest |
16,038 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.5±3.4Highest 25% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Fairhaven and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge and Windham 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 19% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,700±$19kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,118±$79Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,566Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Northbridge 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fairhaven | Windham School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Fairhaven High | Windham High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
12.8Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.