Compare towns
Avon vs Gardner 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).
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 | Gardner | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,774Lowest |
21,148Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
| Gardner and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest 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% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Gardner 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% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% 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 |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% 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±$265Highest 12% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Avon and Townsend 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 |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Avon and Townsend 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% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | Gardner | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | Gardner High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
13.5Highest |
13.1 |
| 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.