What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mattapoisett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).

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	Mattapoisett	Fairhaven
People
Population	6,634Lowest	15,903Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	57.2±2.3Highest 43% above MA	48.5±3.4Lowest 21% above MA
Kids under 18	15.8%±5Lowest MA: 19.4%	16.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Fairhaven and Mattapoisett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.6%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9%	24.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Mattapoisett and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Mattapoisett and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$130,241±$24kHighest 25% above MA	$95,965±$19kLowest 8% below MA
	Mattapoisett and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$681,600±$49kHighest 21% above MA	$446,700±$19kLowest 21% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,597±$422Highest 9% below MA	$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA
	Mattapoisett and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,588Highest 10% above MA	$3,566Lowest 40% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.1%±14Highest MA: 51.8%
	Fairhaven and Mattapoisett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.3%Lowest MA: 10%	8.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	21.3%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6%	11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Mattapoisett and Fairhaven 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	#65 of 282 in MA	#126 of 282 in MA
School district	Mattapoisett · Old Rochester	Fairhaven
High school in town	Old Rochester Regional High	Fairhaven High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.