The entire town of Fairhaven lies within the Buzzards Bay watershed, with New Bedford to the west, Mattapoisett to the east, and Acushnet to the north.

By land area, Fairhaven is the smallest town on Buzzards Bay at just 12 square miles. As of the 2010 Census, Fairhaven was home to 15,873 residents. Its shoreline stretches 29 miles along Buzzards Bay, New Bedford Harbor, and Nasketucket Bay.