Compare towns
Leverett vs Fairhaven vs Sunderland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering LeverettAmherst Town
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leverett has the most people working from home (28.5%).
Fairhaven has the most kids (16.9% under 18).
Sunderland has the most renters (58% rent).
Sunderland is a college town. 25.5% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Leverett | Fairhaven | Sunderland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,608Lowest |
15,903Highest |
3,641 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.3% MA: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±6.4Highest 40% above MA |
48.5±3.4 21% above MA |
35.1±1.9Lowest 12% below MA |
| Leverett and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
9%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Fairhaven and Leverett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.8%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1 MA: 7.9% |
25.5%±9.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,688±$18kHighest about the MA average |
$95,965±$19k 8% below MA |
$68,083±$3kLowest 35% below MA |
| Leverett and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $435,500±$35kLowest 23% below MA |
$446,700±$19k 21% below MA |
$458,100±$52kHighest 19% below MA |
| Sunderland and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$135 21% below MA |
$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,672±$151Highest 5% below MA |
| Sunderland and Leverett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,779Highest 13% above MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$5,611 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.3%±6.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Leverett and Sunderland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10% MA: 10% |
8.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
42%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
17 minLowest 41% below MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #126 of 282 in MA | #220 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Leverett | Fairhaven | Sunderland |
| High school in town | None in town | Fairhaven High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.