The Town FilesFairhaven, Massachusetts
Town in Bristol County · population 15,924 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $446,700
- Household income
- $95,965
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 48.5
Fairhaven is a town of 15,924 people in Bristol County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $446,700, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks more seaside character than 98% of Massachusetts towns, easier by car than 85% of Massachusetts towns, more walkable than 83% of Massachusetts towns.
How Fairhaven ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fairhaven is worth $446,700, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 4.7 times the median household income of $95,965, which is more affordable than 46% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,118 a month. 74.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fairhaven | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $446,700 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,118 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $95,965 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.7× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 74.4% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.8% | — |
Who lives in Fairhaven
| People | Fairhaven | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.5 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.5% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.3% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.7% | — |
| Work from home | 11.4% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 28.5 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.1% | 93.9% |
Weather in Fairhaven
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 22.1°F. About 52.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.5 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 104 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairhaven since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 28, 1970 about 2.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 8, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 9, 1968.
Severe weather in Bristol County since 1996
Bristol County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 15, 2024 | Flood | DR-4780: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| April 18, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4651: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Bristol County
Bristol County had 227,971 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,669 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Fairhaven itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Fairhaven
4 public schools with 1,759 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairhaven High | 9-12 | 591 | 12.3 |
| Leroy Wood | PK-5 | 434 | 15.0 |
| Hastings Middle | 6-8 | 428 | 14.3 |
| East Fairhaven | PK-5 | 306 | 10.9 |
Towns near Fairhaven
- Mattapoisett, MA3.6 mi · 6,508 people · home $681,600
- New Bedford, MA3.9 mi · 101,079 people · home $357,300
- Acushnet Center, MA4.0 mi · 3,030 people · home $378,900
- Bliss Corner, MA4.2 mi · 5,480 people · home $446,200
- Mattapoisett Center, MA4.6 mi · 3,190 people · home $651,900
- Acushnet, MA6.0 mi · 10,559 people · home $436,400
- Dartmouth, MA6.5 mi · 33,783 people · home $496,500
- Smith Mills, MA6.6 mi · 4,832 people · home $420,400
Fairhaven questions
Is Fairhaven, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fairhaven scores better for retirees than 32% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 28%. 24.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.5).
How much does a house cost in Fairhaven?
The median owner-occupied home in Fairhaven is valued at $446,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $95,965, so homes cost about 4.7 times income. Median rent is $1,118 a month.
What is the weather like in Fairhaven?
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 22.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.2 inches of precipitation a year and 32.5 inches of snow.
Does Fairhaven get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairhaven since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 28, 1970. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)