What stands out worked out from the figures below

Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).

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	Maynard	Fairhaven
People
Population	10,712Lowest	15,903Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA	48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA
	Fairhaven and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4%	16.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Maynard and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA	$95,965±$19kLowest 8% below MA
	Maynard and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA	$446,700±$19kLowest 21% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average	$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,266Highest 38% above MA	$3,566Lowest 40% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.1%±14Highest MA: 51.8%
	Fairhaven and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3% MA: 10%	8.3% MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 1 yr older than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 9% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6%	11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#166 of 282 in MA	#126 of 282 in MA
School district	Maynard	Fairhaven
High school in town	Maynard High	Fairhaven High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Lowest	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.