What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westhampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

Fairhaven has the most renters (25.6% rent).

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	Westhampton	Fairhaven
People
Population	1,552Lowest	15,903Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.3±4.9Highest 23% above MA	48.5±3.4Lowest 21% above MA
	Westhampton and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%	16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Westhampton and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.4%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%	24.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Westhampton and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47%Highest MA: 47.3%	32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Westhampton and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,000±$7kHighest 4% below MA	$95,965±$19kLowest 8% below MA
	Westhampton and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$413,200±$24kLowest 26% below MA	$446,700±$19kHighest 21% below MA
	Fairhaven and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,304±$229Highest 26% below MA	$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA
	Westhampton and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,476Highest 8% above MA	$3,566Lowest 40% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.1%±14Highest MA: 51.8%
	Fairhaven and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Lowest MA: 10%	8.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	14.1%±4Highest MA: 18.6%	11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Westhampton 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	—	#126 of 282 in MA
School district	Hampshire · Westhampton	Fairhaven
High school in town	Hampshire Regional High	Fairhaven High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.0Lowest	11.4Highest
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.