What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middlefield has the most homeowners (94.1%).

Fairhaven has the most kids (16.9% under 18).

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	Middlefield	Fairhaven
People
Population	352Lowest	15,903Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+0.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA	48.5±3.4Lowest 21% above MA
Kids under 18	4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	16.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9%	24.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Middlefield and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	32.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Fairhaven and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average	$95,965±$19kLowest 8% below MA
	Middlefield and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$332,800±$48kLowest 41% below MA	$446,700±$19kHighest 21% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA	$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,926Highest 18% below MA	$3,566Lowest 40% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	51.1%±14Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Middlefield and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.2%Highest MA: 10%	8.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.1%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	30 minHighest about the MA average	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	13.2%±9.2Highest MA: 18.6%	11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Middlefield 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	—	#126 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Fairhaven
High school in town	—	Fairhaven High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.4
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.