Compare towns
Spencer vs Paxton 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 renters (37% rent).
Paxton has the most people working from home (25.5%).
Fairhaven has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Paxton | Fairhaven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,008 |
5,002Lowest |
15,903Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
41.8±3.3Lowest 4% above 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% |
17.4%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Paxton and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.4%±3.4Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
$134,083±$8kHighest 29% above MA |
$95,965±$19k 8% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
$472,300±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$446,700±$19k 21% below MA |
| Paxton and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
$1,386±$88Highest 21% below MA |
$1,118±$79 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387 27% below MA |
$7,129Highest 19% above MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Fairhaven and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Paxton and Spencer 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 | #219 of 282 in MA | #126 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Wachusett | Fairhaven |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | None in town | Fairhaven High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| 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.