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School district comparison · MCAS 2026 · other data 2024-25

Fairhaven vs Falmouth Schools

How the two districts, about 14 miles apart, compare on test scores, high school results, classrooms, spending and housing.

The short answer

  • Overall: Fairhaven ranks higher, #124 to Falmouth's #153 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
  • MCAS 2026: Mixed: Falmouth leads in ELA (41% vs 40%), Fairhaven in Math (46% vs 43%). Statewide: 41% and 42%.
  • SAT: Close: Fairhaven averages 1115 and Falmouth 1124.
  • Spending: Falmouth spends $7,237 more per student ($25,497 vs $18,260).
  • Homes: Homes cost more in Falmouth: single-family homes average $1.03M vs $476K. The average tax bill is $4,374 in Fairhaven and $5,881 in Falmouth.

MCAS results, 2026

Share of students meeting or exceeding expectations, all tested grades combined. Both districts test grades 3–10; "State" is the statewide figure for the same grades.

English Language ArtsFalmouth ahead
Fairhaven
40%
Falmouth
41%
State
41%
MathFairhaven ahead
Fairhaven
46%
Falmouth
43%
State
42%
ELA by year
YearFairhavenFalmouthState
202640%41%41%
202544%44%43%
202443%43%42%
202345%49%45%
202244%49%43%
202153%58%50%
Math by year
YearFairhavenFalmouthState
202646%43%42%
202544%42%41%
202452%46%42%
202350%49%42%
202250%49%40%
202144%44%37%

No test in 2020. Statewide 10th-grade results dropped after 2024, when passing the MCAS stopped being a graduation requirement.

High school results

Average SATAbout the same
Fairhaven
1115
Falmouth
1124
MA avg
1113
AP exams scored 3+Fairhaven ahead
Fairhaven
77.2%
Falmouth
63%
MA avg
69.1%
Four-year graduation rateFairhaven ahead
Fairhaven
92.9%
Falmouth
90.2%
MA avg
92.4%

Averages of each district's ranked high schools. "MA avg" is the average of all districts with high school data.

Classrooms, teachers & spending

Average class sizeHigher in Falmouth
Fairhaven
15.4
Falmouth
16.2
MA avg
17.3
Attendance rateFairhaven ahead
Fairhaven
93.4%
Falmouth
91.8%
MA avg
93.7%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysLower in Fairhaven
Fairhaven
17.3%
Falmouth
26.7%
MA avg
16.9%
Teachers who stayedfrom last yearFairhaven ahead
Fairhaven
91.5%
Falmouth
89%
MA avg
84.7%
Spending per studentHigher in Falmouth
Fairhaven
$18,260
Falmouth
$25,497
MA median
$21,765
Average teacher salaryHigher in Falmouth
Fairhaven
$82,224
Falmouth
$92,617
MA median
$91,393

Spending is total per-pupil expenditure from all sources in FY2024. Class size is the average across all classes in the district.

Students

FairhavenFalmouth
Students in classes1,7372,904
English learners2.2%8.3%
Students with disabilities17.1%24%
White80.5%74.2%
Asian1.9%1.6%
Hispanic/Latino9.4%10.9%
Black/African American2.5%4.9%
Multi-race5.3%7.5%

Homes & taxes

Average single-family home valueHigher in Falmouth
Fairhaven
$476K
Falmouth
$1.03M
MA median
$588K
Average property tax billHigher in Falmouth
Fairhaven
$4,374
Falmouth
$5,881
MA median
$6,814
Fairhaven
Bristol County · South Coast & Cape Cod
Avg single-family home value$476KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$4,374MA median $6,814
Tax rate$9.20 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$39,809MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school94.1%
Town bond ratingAA+
Free cash reserves6.4% of budget
Falmouth
Barnstable County · South Coast & Cape Cod
Avg single-family home value$1.03MMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$5,881MA median $6,814
Tax rate$5.70 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$58,781MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school93.5%
Town bond ratingAAA
Free cash reserves10.4% of budget

What could you afford in either town?

FY2026 averages for single-family homes from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue; for a district with several towns, the comparison uses the average of its towns. Assessed values usually run below recent sale prices.

The schools

Fairhaven
High schools · rank of 335
Fairhaven HighSAT 1115#148 B-
Elementary schools · rank of 895
Leroy Wood#223 B+East Fairhaven#503 C+