Compare towns
Avon vs Becket vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Avon has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Becket has the most people working from home (13.3%).
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.
| Measure | Avon | Becket | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,774 |
1,962Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA |
49.6±4.7Highest 24% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Avon and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Becket 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Avon and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $130,625±$33kHighest 26% above MA |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| Avon and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $509,600±$62kHighest 9% below MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Avon and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,558±$265 12% below MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
| Becket and Avon 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 |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket 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% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Becket and Townsend 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | Central Berkshire | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.