First-time buyer programs
MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Bristol County. We check them with you before you shop.
MassHousing home loans
Living in Fairhaven, Massachusetts
Fairhaven is a town on Buzzards Bay across the Acushnet River from New Bedford, incorporated in 1812. A 19th-century whaling port, it was the site of the first naval battle of the American Revolution offshore on May 14, 1775, and Herman Melville sailed from its waterfront aboard the whaleship Acushnet in 1841. Philanthropist Henry Huttleston Rogers funded much of the town's civic architecture, including Town Hall, the Millicent Library and the high school, around the turn of the 20th century.
Fairhaven at a glance
- $9.19Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $4,374Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- BristolCounty
- 1812Year incorporated
Fairhaven's villages and zip codes
Fairhaven uses a single ZIP code, 02719, for the whole town.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Fairhaven Center | 02719 | Around Center Street, where Town Hall and the Millicent Library face each other. |
| North Fairhaven | 02719 | The northern section of town along the Acushnet River. |
| Sconticut Neck | 02719 | A peninsula extending into Buzzards Bay on the town's east side. |
| Oxford | 02719 | A waterfront section near the harbor and the New Bedford-Fairhaven bridge. |
Things to do in Fairhaven, MA
Start with Fort Phoenix State Reservation and Millicent Library, then 2 more below.
Fort Phoenix State Reservation
A former coastal fort at the mouth of the Acushnet River, with a south-facing beach, picnic areas and views across the harbor to New Bedford.
Fort St, Fairhaven, MA
Millicent Library
An 1893 library building funded by Henry Huttleston Rogers, across Center Street from Town Hall.
45 Center St, Fairhaven, MA 02719
Phoenix Rail Trail
A multi-use path along a former railroad right-of-way through town, used for walking and biking.
Fairhaven, MA
Joseph Bates Boyhood Home
The boyhood home of Joseph Bates, now a small museum, on Main Street.
191 Main St, Fairhaven, MA
More worth a visit
- Livesey ParkA town park with fields and play space.
- Cushman ParkA town park near the town center.
A little history
The first naval battle of the American Revolution took place offshore of Fairhaven on May 14, 1775.
By 1838, Fairhaven was the second-largest whaling port in the United States, with 24 vessels.
Henry Huttleston Rogers funded Fairhaven's Town Hall, the Millicent Library, the high school and other civic buildings around the turn of the 20th century.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Fairhaven
Fairhaven's Buzzards Bay shoreline and the Acushnet River give it beach access at Fort Phoenix and a rail-trail for walking and biking through town.
- Fort Phoenix State ReservationHarbor-mouth beach and picnic area with historic fort remains.
- Phoenix Rail TrailPaved multi-use trail on a former rail line.
- Sconticut NeckA peninsula with water access on Buzzards Bay.
Walkability and getting around Fairhaven
Fairhaven Center, around Center Street and the Town Hall/library block, is walkable, and the Phoenix Rail Trail gives a car-free route through town, but most residential areas are built for driving.
Drive times
- New Bedford, about 2 miles
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
The Southeastern Regional Transit Authority (SRTA) provides bus service between Fairhaven and New Bedford and other South Coast towns; there is no train station in town.
Fairhaven property taxes
Fairhaven's FY2026 residential tax rate is $9.19 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $18.20. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $919 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $4,374, on an average assessed value of $475,941.
Fairhaven's FY2026 tax rates
$9.19per $1,000, residential
- Residential$9.19 per $1,000
- Commercial, industrial, personal property$18.20 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$475,941
- Average single-family tax bill$4,374
- Motor vehicle excise (statewide)$25 per $1,000 of value
Source: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.
How the residential rate has changed
| Fiscal year | Residential rate |
|---|---|
| FY2022 | $10.22 |
| FY2023 | $9.95 |
| FY2024 | $9.23 |
| FY2025 | $9.32 |
| FY2026 | $9.19 |
Look up a Fairhaven property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Town ClerkVital records and town records
- Assessors' officeQuestions about a value
- Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county
Buying a home in Fairhaven
What we check on a Fairhaven purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, coastal flood zone.
Check the flood zone first
Shoreline along Buzzards Bay and the Acushnet River, including Fort Phoenix and Sconticut Neck, falls within FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for FairhavenSmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Fairhaven Fire Department before the sale closes.
Check flood maps near Buzzards Bay
Waterfront areas such as Sconticut Neck and land near Fort Phoenix sit along Buzzards Bay and the Acushnet River, and can fall within FEMA flood zones. We check the flood map before you make an offer on a property near the water.
All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property and program requirements. MassHousing limits and eligibility are set by MassHousing and change from time to time.
Thinking about buying in Fairhaven?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Fairhaven address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Fairhaven: utilities, trash and town hall
Who to call in Fairhaven.
- Registry of Motor VehiclesUpdate your address with the RMV within 30 days. Excise tax goes to the city or town where the car is garaged.Mass. RMV
Town Hall offices and contacts
Fairhaven Town Hall is at 40 Center St, Fairhaven, MA 02719.
- Town HallMain line and website
- Town ClerkLand records, vital records and elections.
- AssessorProperty values and assessments.
- Tax CollectorProperty tax billing and payment.
- Building DepartmentBuilding permits and inspections.
- Planning BoardZoning and land-use applications.
- Board of HealthTitle 5 septic inspections, well permits and food-service inspections.
- Fire DepartmentFire prevention and smoke/CO certificates for home sales, on Washington Street.
- Millicent LibraryThe town's public library.508-992-5342
- Fairhaven Public SchoolsThe town's public school district, with two elementary schools, a middle school and Fairhaven High School.
Fairhaven, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Fairhaven, MA?
Fairhaven's FY2026 residential tax rate is $9.19 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $18.20. Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.
How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Fairhaven?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $3,676 a year at $9.19 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Fairhaven have a split tax rate?
Yes. Homes pay $9.19 per $1,000 and commercial, industrial and personal property pay $18.20.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Fairhaven?
The average single-family tax bill in Fairhaven was $4,374 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $475,941.
What county is Fairhaven, MA in?
Fairhaven is in Bristol County.
What ZIP code does Fairhaven use?
Fairhaven uses a single ZIP code, 02719, for the whole town.
How far is Fairhaven from New Bedford?
Fairhaven is directly across the Acushnet River from New Bedford, about 2 miles from downtown.
Is there public transit in Fairhaven?
The Southeastern Regional Transit Authority (SRTA) runs bus service between Fairhaven and New Bedford and other South Coast towns.
Which towns border Fairhaven?
Fairhaven borders New Bedford, Acushnet and Mattapoisett.
What beach is in Fairhaven?
Fort Phoenix State Reservation has a south-facing beach at the mouth of the Acushnet River.
Towns near Fairhaven
Neighbors of Fairhaven, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Fairhaven, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Fairhaven Town Hall - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- The Millicent Library website: millicentlibrary.org
- Fairhaven MA Town Hall photo, Wikimedia Commons: commons.wikimedia.org
- Tax rates and average single-family value and tax bill: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.
- Motor vehicle excise: M.G.L. c. 60A, $25 per $1,000 of value statewide.
- Walkability: Walk Score®, provided live by Walk Score.
- Photo: T.S. Custadio (ToddC4176), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.