Compare towns
Avon vs Fall River vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Avon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Fall River | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,774Lowest |
94,082Highest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Avon and Fall River 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% |
16.1%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley 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% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Avon and Shirley 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 |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
| Avon and Shirley 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 |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$427,600±$36k 24% below MA |
| Avon and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,558±$265Highest 12% below MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
| Avon and Shirley 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 |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$5,156 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
9.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Shirley 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 | #262 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | B M C Durfee High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
11.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.