What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Townsend	Fairhaven
People
Population	9,100Lowest	15,903Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average	48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA
Kids under 18	21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%	16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Townsend and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Townsend and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA	$95,965±$19kLowest 8% below MA
	Townsend and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA	$446,700±$19kHighest 21% below MA
	Fairhaven and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA	$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA
	Townsend and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,031Highest about the MA average	$3,566Lowest 40% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.1%±14Highest MA: 51.8%
	Fairhaven and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest MA: 10%	8.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 27% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	11.4%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Fairhaven and Townsend 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	#136 of 282 in MA	#126 of 282 in MA
School district	North Middlesex	Fairhaven
High school in town	North Middlesex Regional	Fairhaven High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	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.