Compare towns
Avon vs Dorset vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Avon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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.
| Measure | Avon | Dorset | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,774 |
2,092Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4Lowest 4% below U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 62% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| 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±$62k 53% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,558±$265Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Avon and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,627 112% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #212 of 282 in MA | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.