Possibly because there is such a large population of younger people in the town, we often seem to get a glimpse of the direction in which communities are moving before many other older-established towns.
Whereas in slightly more 'old-fashioned' towns there is still a vestige of support for local community groups, in various fields including sport, the arts and what we used to call 'hobbies', Haverhill seems to have lost this almost completely.
Within my memory it was very strong in the town, although it had its ups and downs, as everywhere.
But now running any sort of voluntary group is a struggle and, sadly, the difficulties here are likely to be a harbinger of similar problems nationwide.
Only last week we saw the University of the Third Age, of all people, in danger of folding through lack of a committee to run it.
Here is a group made up of older people, who come from the generation when one used to support one's community efforts, struggling to find a committee from among nearly 250 members.
And it's not uncommon – talk to the Haverhill Show organisers.
Last week an earthquake struck Haverhill Rovers with manager, replacement manager and many players all leaving because of the club having to reduce its budget.
Footballers nowadays are mostly pretty mercenary, even at this level, so it is no surprise.
Much as one would like to find loyalty to one's local club, the Marcus Hunts of this world are rare animals.
But the cause of the budget cuts has been a lack of support for the team, manifested in falling gates, resulting in the club losing a lot of money – despite being at its most successful for years.
Now you can argue about the fact that most of the players in recent times have been imports, which is what has raised the club to level which it now enjoys and produced some exciting cup runs.
But there were 1,500 people interested enough to attend a big cup match last season, but only 46 at the semi-final of a smaller cup game the other week, more than half of whom had taken the trouble to come here from Gorleston on a freezing cold Tuesday night to support their team.
That must be very disheartening for Rovers and seems to have precipitated events which anyway had a certain inevitability about them.
No doubt there are a lot of other issues within the complex set-up of a local football club, but the fact remains that a community which doesn't support the efforts of those who represent it within the area, the region or even the country, doesn't deserve to have any representatives.
In my particular field of interest, the arts, the town has an excellent arts centre, which is not in itself a voluntary organisation, but which showcases the efforts of many voluntary groups in music, drama, visual arts and dance.
Support is variable, but the lack of it is always a surprise to visitors from other towns.
Of course, anything with children in it will get a lot of support – a boys' football cup-tie the week after the Rovers disaster saw over 200 fans turn up.
But what are we encouraging the children for if, when they grow up, no one wants to support their efforts any more?
It just makes for a lot of frustrated and disappointed adults, who will often go to other towns where they are more appreciated.
And the worst of it is that it just re-inforces the negative view of Haverhill which the town desperately needs to shed if it is to move forward in the region.
Many people will tell you there is a huge amount of talent in Haverhill, in all sorts of areas of constructive activity but it generally doesn't get the sort of support at an adult level that would allow it to take its rightful place in the region.