What stands out worked out from the figures below

Avon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).

Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Avon	Athol
People
Population	4,774Lowest	12,011Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA	41.3±1.9Highest 3% above MA
	Athol and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Athol and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Athol and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9%	3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$130,625±$33kHighest 26% above MA	$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$509,600±$62kHighest 9% below MA	$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,558±$265Highest 12% below MA	$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA
	Avon and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,627Highest 11% above MA	$3,403Lowest 43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.3%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Athol and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.6%Lowest MA: 10%	16.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Highest 10 yrs older than MA	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% below MA	27 minLowest 8% below MA
Work from home	10.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	10.6%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Athol and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#212 of 282 in MA	#256 of 282 in MA
School district	Avon	Athol-Royalston
High school in town	Avon Middle High School	Athol High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.4Lowest	11.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.