What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

Fairhaven has the most expensive 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	Springfield	Fairhaven
People
Population	154,749Highest	15,903Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA	48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA
Kids under 18	24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4%	16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	32.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA	$95,965±$19kHighest 8% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA	$446,700±$19kHighest 21% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,144±$55Highest 35% below MA	$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA
	Springfield and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,695Highest 38% below MA	$3,566Lowest 40% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8%	51.1%±14Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Springfield and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	25.8%Highest MA: 10%	8.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952 12 yrs older than MA	1952 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 31% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	11.4%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Fairhaven and Springfield 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	#276 of 282 in MA	#126 of 282 in MA
School district	Springfield	Fairhaven
High school in town	Springfield Central High	Fairhaven High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	11.4Lowest
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.