What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).

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	Salisbury	Fairhaven
People
Population	5,656Lowest	15,903Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51±6.9Highest 28% above MA	48.5±3.4Lowest 21% above MA
	Salisbury and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	16.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Fairhaven and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%	24.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Salisbury and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Salisbury and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,469±$7kLowest 11% below MA	$95,965±$19kHighest 8% below MA
	Fairhaven and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$465,900±$31kHighest 17% below MA	$446,700±$19kLowest 21% below MA
	Salisbury and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,770±$444Highest about the MA average	$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,561Highest 24% below MA	$3,566Lowest 40% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8%	51.1%±14Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Salisbury and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Lowest MA: 10%	8.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 17 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	19.7%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6%	11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Salisbury 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	#240 of 282 in MA	#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.