Compare towns
Kingston vs Fairhaven vs Lunenburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kingston has the most expensive homes ($611k median).
Fairhaven has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
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 | Kingston | Fairhaven | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,027 |
15,903Highest |
11,902Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±3.9 16% above MA |
48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA |
43.2±2.1Lowest 8% above MA |
| Fairhaven and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lunenburg and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±3.7 MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Fairhaven and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Lunenburg and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,876±$13kHighest 15% above MA |
$95,965±$19kLowest 8% below MA |
$112,828±$11k 9% above MA |
| Kingston and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,600±$30kHighest 9% above MA |
$446,700±$19kLowest 21% below MA |
$463,900±$24k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,159±$244 34% below MA |
$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
| Lunenburg and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,650Highest 28% above MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$6,401 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Fairhaven and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.5%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Kingston and Lunenburg 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 | #99 of 282 in MA | #126 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Kingston · Silver Lake | Fairhaven | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | Silver Lake Regional High | Fairhaven High | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0 |
11.4Lowest |
12.4Highest |
| 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.