What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marshfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

Fairhaven has the most affordable homes ($447k median).

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	Marshfield	Fairhaven
People
Population	25,879Highest	15,903Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±2.6Lowest 15% above MA	48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA
	Fairhaven and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Marshfield and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Fairhaven and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Marshfield and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,986±$8kHighest 21% above MA	$95,965±$19kLowest 8% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$680,300±$27kHighest 21% above MA	$446,700±$19kLowest 21% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,772±$123Highest about the MA average	$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,656Highest 11% above MA	$3,566Lowest 40% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8%	51.1%±14Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Marshfield and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Highest MA: 10%	8.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 19% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	24.8%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%	11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#54 of 282 in MA	#126 of 282 in MA
School district	Marshfield	Fairhaven
High school in town	Marshfield High	Fairhaven High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Lowest	11.4Highest
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.