Compare towns
Washington vs Fairhaven vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
Fairhaven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.3%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 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 | Washington | Fairhaven | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 526Lowest |
15,903Highest |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
48.5±3.4Lowest 21% above MA |
55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Fairhaven and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32.5% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
$95,965±$19kHighest 8% below MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
| Fairhaven and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
$446,700±$19kHighest 21% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
| Lee and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381Highest 27% below MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$3,980 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 13% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lee and Washington 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 | — | #126 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Fairhaven | Lee |
| High school in town | — | Fairhaven High | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → |
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.