Compare towns
Spencer vs Everett vs Fairhaven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Spencer has the most people working from home (15%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Fairhaven has the most homeowners (74.4%).
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.
| Measure | Spencer | Everett | Fairhaven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,008Lowest |
50,045Highest |
15,903 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
48.5±3.4 21% above MA |
| Spencer and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$95,965±$19kHighest 8% below MA |
| Fairhaven and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$446,700±$19k 21% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,118±$79 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387 27% below MA |
$4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Spencer 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #126 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Everett | Fairhaven |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | Everett High | Fairhaven High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.