What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

Fairhaven has the most homeowners (74.4%).

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	Lowell	Fairhaven
People
Population	118,368Highest	15,903Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA	48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA
Kids under 18	21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4%	16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Lowest MA: 47.3%	32.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA	$95,965±$19kHighest 8% below MA
	Fairhaven and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA	$446,700±$19kHighest 21% below MA
	Fairhaven and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA	$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,499Highest 25% below MA	$3,566Lowest 40% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±3.8Highest MA: 51.8%	51.1%±14Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lowell and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.9%Highest MA: 10%	8.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	11.4%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Fairhaven and Lowell 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	#255 of 282 in MA	#126 of 282 in MA
School district	Lowell	Fairhaven
High school in town	Lowell High	Fairhaven High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	11.4Lowest
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.