Fort Phoenix · Photo: Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger) · CC0Within Massachusetts, Fairhaven is healthier than 16% of graded towns
Fairhaven differs from Massachusetts on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 02719. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Fairhaven
Massachusetts sets a high bar
Fairhaven is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns, but only 16% of the 279 Massachusetts towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Heart disease, COPD and cancer run high in Fairhaven
1 in 13 adults have heart disease (7.7%), vs 5.8% across Massachusetts. 1 in 13 adults have COPD (7.8%), vs 5.9% across Massachusetts. Cancer is also above the state: 11.1%, vs 8.5% across Massachusetts. In all, Fairhaven runs above Massachusetts on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Fairhaven
1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (14.3%), vs 11.3% across Massachusetts. Habits ↓
More high blood pressure in Fairhaven, and more people treating it
35.7% of adults have high blood pressure (Massachusetts 30.9%), but 78.5% of them take medicine for it, vs 75.4% statewide. Checkups ↓
Health varies a lot right around Fairhaven
Grades next door run from Mattapoisett (A) to New Bedford (D). Fairhaven is a B. Around town ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Massachusetts figure falls outside Fairhaven’s likely range; Fairhaven’s figures come from ZIP code 02719, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
What’s behind Fairhaven’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fairhaven is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns, #234 of 279 in Massachusetts. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 82% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 44%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Fairhaven’s median household income is $95,965; among the 9,174 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($72K–$120K), it’s healthier than 49%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Fairhaven adults…
Fairhaven runs above MA on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Massachusetts
Share of adults, with the Massachusetts figure marked.
6.9 miles of trails across 47 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Fairhaven adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Massachusetts.
Fairhaven and the towns around it
Fairhaven’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 4 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairhaven | B | 30.5% | 10.9% | 14.3% | ZIP 02719 |
| New Bedford | D | 36.3% | 13.2% | 21.4% | CDC place |
| Mattapoisett | A | 26.4% | 9.9% | 8.8% | ZIP 02739 |
| Acushnet | B | 30.5% | 10.2% | 15% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near Fairhaven
No hospital or community health center in Fairhaven itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Fairhaven; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
How Fairhaven adults are doing
About the same as Massachusetts on each measure.
1 in 3 Fairhaven adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
13.4% of Fairhaven adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across Massachusetts.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Fairhaven adults live with a disability (Massachusetts 27.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Fairhaven
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Fairhaven is better than Massachusetts on 3 and worse on 10; on the rest, the Massachusetts figure falls inside Fairhaven’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Fairhaven | MA | U.S. | vs MA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.5%16.3–20.8 | 16.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.5%13–16.3 | 12.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.2%15.5–19.1 | 16.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.5%26.4–35 | 27.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.9%9.6–12.4 | 9.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35.7%32.8–38.9 | 30.9% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.1%35.9–42.4 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 31.5%28.8–34.2 | 25.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.5%11.2–13.9 | 11.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.1%10.1–12.1 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.7%6.9–8.5 | 5.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.8%6.9–8.9 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.4–4.1 | 3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.7%13–18.5 | 11.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.3%12.3–16.6 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 23.3%20.3–26.6 | 21.7% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.3%14.1–18.6 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.5%28.8–36.3 | 33.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.3%3.5–5.2 | 5.2% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 83.7%81.3–85.8 | 80.9% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 72.2%69.4–74.6 | 69.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 91.1%89.8–92.2 | 89.7% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.5%75.8–81 | 75.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71%67.3–74.3 | 68.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 83%78.3–87 | 83.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.4%20.7–26.3 | 23.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.9%28.6–35.6 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.8%20.2–25.8 | 23.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.1%9.4–13 | 12.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10%8.5–11.5 | 11.1% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.4%5.5–7.4 | 7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.7%5.8–7.6 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.4%11.4–15.6 | 14.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.9%27.7–34.3 | 27.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.6%12.9–16.6 | 11.6% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.2%12.6–15.9 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.9%7.1–8.8 | 6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.4%3.9–4.9 | 4.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.2%7.3–9.3 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.6%3.2–4 | 3.1% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Massachusetts figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Fairhaven
Is Fairhaven a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fairhaven is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #234 of 279 in Massachusetts. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 49%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Fairhaven?
CDC estimates 30.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.4% and 35%, against 27.7% across Massachusetts and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Fairhaven?
Falmouth Hospital in Falmouth, 13.7 miles in a straight line from Fairhaven’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Fairhaven have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.5–5.2%), against 5.2% across Massachusetts.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Fairhaven more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Fairhaven.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Massachusetts figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.