What stands out worked out from the figures below

Templeton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).

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	Templeton	Fairhaven
People
Population	8,252Lowest	15,903Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.3±5.1Lowest about the MA average	48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA
	Fairhaven and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.9%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4%	16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Templeton and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	32.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Templeton and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,154±$15kHighest about the MA average	$95,965±$19kLowest 8% below MA
	Templeton and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$358,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA	$446,700±$19kHighest 21% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$353Highest 31% below MA	$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA
	Templeton and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,554Highest 24% below MA	$3,566Lowest 40% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.7%±26.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.1%±14Highest MA: 51.8%
	Fairhaven and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.6%Highest MA: 10%	8.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	16.9%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6%	11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Templeton 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	#244 of 282 in MA	#126 of 282 in MA
School district	Narragansett	Fairhaven
High school in town	Narragansett Regional 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.